LIR 30 Week 5

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LIR 30 Week 5

• Where Do You Find Information?

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Class Announcements

• Buy a Reader!
• Keep up with your homework!

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Topics for LIR 10 Week 5

• Where Do You Find Information?
• Finding information in libraries
• Databases
• Writing annotations/ how to scan books for
  annotating

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Pep talk

• Confusion uncertainty is normal!
• Dont rush from topic to data dump
• Booth, Colomb and Williams The Craft of Research
  
• Contradictory lecture info
• Spend some time asking questions, thinking about
  context to save time later
• Thinking like an indexer comes into play

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More pep talk

• Process not always straightforward
• Avoid leaping into data dump by finding
  background information, context
• Textbooks
• Reference books
• Circulating books
• Another contradiction find context helps you
  focus!

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So, today

• Keep thesis statement/research question in mind,
  think about what you need to know first
• As we learn about library resources, think about
  how youll use them
• Dual processes
• New skills
• Context of your project
• Its a challenge!

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So

• Youve identified key elements (scope, purpose
  audience) of research project
• Youve created a research question or thesis
  statement
• What next?

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How Do You Find Information?

• Using Resources in the Library

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Off to the library!
Image from NYPL Picture Collection The NYPL
Picture Collection Online
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What is a library?

• Old view
• Building housing organized collection of books
  and other materials borrowed or used at site

Image from NYPL Picture Collection The NYPL
Picture Collection Online
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What is a library?

• Libraries today
• Content (books, periodicals, multimedia) and
  function (providing tools access information in
  library, or available through library)
• supporting needs of library user

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• Think of a mall

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No two libraries are alike.

• Libraries gear collections, materials, resources
  to users.

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Libraries aim to provide one stop shopping for
information and research needs

• Books for reference, borrowing
• Journals, newspapers, magazines
• Multimedia
• Online databases
• Guided access to Internet sources

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Library Coping Skills 101 Check your Reader

• Glossary (list of terms)
• How to find a book
• Library of Congress info
• LC outline

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Todays class focuses on books

• Circulating book stacks
• Majority of collection
• Circulating available for check-out
• Reference section next week
• Non-circulating cant be checked out
• Should be there when needed

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Central idea of every library information is
collected and organized

• easily located retrieved by users

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Finding Information in the Library

• Using Information Finding Tools

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Thinking about Information Finding Tools (IFTs)

• Sources vs. Finding Tools
• Finding tools provide access to sources
• Sources (articles, books, documents) provide
  content
• Stand-alone vs. combined with content
• Green Books example vs. online databases

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Finding Tool o the day

• Library catalog

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Structure of Information Finding Tools

• Tools you use to find information
• Or, sources
• Arranged in some way,
• whether you notice or not

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Common elements in IFTs

• Access records (information about where to find a
  source), may include content
• Each IFT searchable in a different way
• Subject
• Keyword
• Title
• Author

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Which means that

• Each IFT has to create those ways to search
• Each way describes an attribute or aspect of
  the information in the IFT
• Books have title, author, subject, etc.

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Common elements in IFTs

• Attributes entered in fields
• All the records combine to create a database

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What is a database?

• And why should you care?

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• Database metaphor

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Databases

• Organized body of related information
• Simple Rolodex file
• Complex periodical database, millions of records
• Record item in database
• Records consist of collection of fields
• Fields attributes, characteristics of item

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Databases

• Fields created to be searched, information is
  accessible
• Search fields AKA access points

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Databases

• Words, numbers describing attributes/
  characteristics highly controlled
• otherwise there would be a big mess!
• Database arrangement based on its content user
  in mind

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Database Elements

• Fields
• Contain data elements, attributes, descriptions
• Discreet pieces of information about item
• Grouped together, comprise record
• Records
• Contain data elements in a number of fields
• Can be searched by field
• Grouped together, comprise database

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Playing the Fields
Each piece of clothing represented by a record

• Clothes Database
• Color
• Season
• Work vs. casual vs. sports
• Designer name

Each record has fields!
Each field represents an attribute, or way of
describing item of clothing Lets search my
Clothing Database
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SearchingJean Filkins Fabulous Wardrobe Database
Search Results 35 items Sleeveless wool
sheath Leather pants Etc., etc., etc.

• Advanced Search
• Color
• Season
• Designer

black
winter
versace
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Thoughts about my database

• What if I decided that one skirt was orange
• another more like pumpkin
• this ones more like curry?
• Controlled vocabulary!
• (An agreed-upon list of terms for searching,
  organizing)

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Why is a catalog search like an online dating
service?
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They can make your dreams come true

• Searching library catalog or for that special
  someone, youre compiling a list of the perfect

• attributes!
• tall
• British
• handsome
• circulating book
• about social security
• written recently

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Each Attribute

• Fields
• Height tall
• Nationality Brit
• Attractiveness level handsome
• Type of publication circulating book
• Subject social security
• Date recent

• Reflects an aspect of the item being described
• In information land these aspects are in fields

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Introduction to the Library Catalog
Finds information about library holdings Content
available via e-books
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Now the library catalog looks like this

• Find the catalog at
• http//www.santarosa.edu/library/index.shtml

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Subject Heading vs. Keyword

• Official term describing topic found in subject
  field of database, catalog, etc
• Based on agreed-upon list of terms

• Words describing aspects of topic found in
  article text, citation, catalogue entry
• Can be found anywhere (almost)

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Searching the online catalog

• Search fields
• Subject
• Author
• Title
• Search methods
• Exact
• Keyword

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Library catalog demonstration

• http//www.santarosa.edu/library/index.shtml
• Distinction between
• Subject heading
• Keyword
• Our test case Snakes
• In-class worksheet

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It can be difficult to know the exact subject
headings

• Civil war example

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Sneaky catalog trick

• Using keyword to find a topic
• Keyword anywhere search
• Pick appropriate book
• Scan record, click on best subject heading
• Different from See references

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Annotations

• They Make Life Worth Living

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General Guidelines for Annotations

• In your Reader and online
• http//online.santarosa.edu/homepage/jfilkins/anno
  tations.html

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What is an Annotated Bibliography?

• List of citations to books, articles and
  documents (e.g. sources)
• Followed by brief (200-250 words) descriptive and
  evaluative paragraph the annotation
• Informs reader of the relevance, accuracy, and
  quality of sources cited

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Annotations vs. Abstracts

• Abstracts
• Purely descriptive summaries often found at the
  beginning of scholarly journal articles or in
  periodical indexes

• Annotations
• Descriptive and critical
• Expose the author's point of view, authority
• Evaluate reliability, timeliness of information
• Relevance to your research

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Before Writing Your Annotation

• Locate books, periodicals, documents
• Sources should support all aspects of your topic

• Examine and review, choose works that provide a
  variety of perspectives on your topic

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Before Writing Your Annotation

• Books
• Not necessary to read in entirety
• Read or use scanning technique
• Periodical and Internet sources
• Must be read completely
• No newspaper articles or book reviews
• Cite each book, article or document using MLA
  style

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Now youre ready to write your

• annotation!

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Writing Annotations

• A ten step program

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Annotation Workshop

• Dont write a review!
• Using separate piece of paper, write down 5
  criteria
• Scope/Coverage
• Treatment/Reliability
• Authority
• Relevancy
• Timeliness/Currency

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Annotation Workshop No Reviews!

• Leave space below each of the criteria
• As you read source, jot down impressions under
  each heading
• Do more research if necessary (especially
  regarding authority)
• Read source again, develop your ideas

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Annotation Workshop No Reviews!

• Start writing your annotation
• Make each criteria is covered completely
• Proofread for errors
• Double check citation format
• Check the final project format for spacing,
  indents, etc.

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Remember

• Annotation is subjective but information should
  be objective!

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The Final Project!
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What will the final project look like?

• 5 sources
• 5 citations
• 3 annotations
• Link to mock-up available on Lecture Notes Page

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Scanning technique for books
If you dont have time to read the entire book
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Anatomy of a Book

• End flap information on author
• Title page, verso citation information
• Table of contents broad outline
• Introduction focus of book
• Bibliography sources for book
• Appendices additional information

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Study the Index and Table of Contents

• Index identifies key concepts, people
• Table of Contents reveals focus of book
• Look at bibliography for related information

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Scanning Technique for Books

• Book
• Examine sections or chapters
• Read introduction
• Look for special features
• Find out about the author
• End flaps, introduction, acknowledgements
• Search online databases
• Online search for personal or academic websites,
  professional affiliations, etc.

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No shortcuts for periodicals!
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Homework for Next Week

• Library catalog worksheet
• Circulating book searching and citing

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Questions?
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Homework for Next Week

• Library Catalog Assignment
• Circulating book searching citing
• Extra credit option Create-your-own-database