ERIC ED367318: Library Skills, English 200/201. Merrill Library, Utah State University.

34 Pages·1993·1.1 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 367 318
IR 054 847
TITLE
Library Skills, English 200/201. Merrill Library,
Utah State University.
INSTITUTION
Utah State Univ., Logan. Merrill Library.
PUB DATE
93
NOTE
34p.
PUB TYPE
Classroom Use
Guides
Instructional Materials (For
Learner) (051)
Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Access to Information; College Libraries; *Course
Integrated Library Instruction; Higher Education;
Information Literacy; *Information Seeking; Library
Guides; *Library Instruction; *Library Skills;
Orientation Materials; Reference Sei-vices; *Research
Skills
IDENTIFIERS
User Training; Utah State University
ABSTRACT
This manual describes the library instruction program
taken as a part of English 200/201 at Utah State University. This
manual is meant to be read after completing Project FORE, a
computer-assisted instruction program at Merrill Library (Utah State
University). Project FORE and this manual review the skills needed to
retrieve information on research topics. This manual reviews the
following topics:
(1) selecting a topic;
(2) locating background
information; (3) locating books in Merrill Library, including Library
of Congress Subject Headings, MERLIN, and classification systems;
(4)
locating periodical articles, including indexes both in print and
online and abstracts and CD-ROM databases;
(5) locating journals in
Merrill Library; (6) interlibrary loan services;
(7) evaluating
sources; and (8) research strategies. A test is included to review
the skills discussed in the manual. (JLB)
***********************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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Library Skills
English 200/201
Merrill Library
Utah State University
LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS
ENGLISH 201
Library Research Skills English 201 is a supplementary unit of English 200/201. We
recommend that this manual be read after completing Project FORE, a computer
-
assisted instruction program, located in Microcomputer Services, 4th floor, Merrill
Library, and at the Taggart Student Center Microcomputer Laboratory. The informa-
tion in Project FORE and this manual review the skills needed to retrieve informa-
tion on research topics. This manual is designed as a secondary source. I
Library Research Skills English 200/201 reviews:
Page
Selecting a topic.
2
1.
Locating background information.
2
II.
Locating books in Merrill Library.
III.
3
A. Library of Congress Subject Headings
3
MERLIN
4
B.
Classification Systems
9
C.
IV. Locating periodical articles.
11
A. Indexes both in print and online
12
B. Abstracts and CD ROM databases
15
2 2
V. Locating journals in Merrill Library
26
VI. Interlibrary Loan Services
WI. Evaluating
26
26
VIII. The Research Process
I. Selecting a Topic.
Selecting a topic for a research paper can be a difficult process.
It will take
time and careful thinking. Consider more than one subject before making a final deci-
sion. A topic may be is so current or so narrow that there is little information avail-
able. Two excellent suggestions that may help in your selection of a topic are:
1. Be sure to select a topic that is vitally interesting. It is exciting to re-
search a subject which may help in own decision making.
2. In order to locate topics which might be of interest, explore newspapers,
current magazines, the encyclopedia yearbooks which are located
in the Reference Book Collection on the 2nd floor of Merrill Library. A
particularly good source for topics of current concerns is the CQ Reseacher
(REF H35.E356) located in the Reference area. These reports review
such subjects as college sports, waste management, the ozone layer, eu-
thanasia, and the national health crisis. Time spent in selecting a topic
is well spent!
II. Searching for Background Materials.
Locate the Reference Book Collectionon the second floor of Merrill Library. This
section contains basic information in encyclopedias, dictionaries, and manuals both in
general areas and in specific subject areas. Consult the general encyclopedias in the
"A" Section of Reference first. The encyclopedia index lists many varied words/sub-
jects on topics. This helps in narrowing or refining a topic. The background informa-
tion provides:
'important books on a subject, titles which could be in Merrill's collection
*terminology, words which will help in locating more information
"lists of experts --people who are well-informed in this field
articles from magazines or government reports
'topics which may have a more narrow focus
After consulting the general mcyclopedias, review encyclopedias in specific subject ar-
Classification
eas. The list of subject areas as outlined in the Library of Congress
charts posted in the Reference Book Collection are helpful in locating these subject-
specific encyclopedias. The Encyclopedia of Bioethics (REF QH332.E512), the McGraw
Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (RefQH332.E52) and the Encyclopedia of
North American Sports History (RefGV567.H519) are three excellent examples of
subject-specific encylopedias.
Taking the time to explore in general and specific subject encyclopedias clarifies topic
selection. This process offers many different ways to select materials either through
subject searching or through lists of books and authors.
2
III. LOCATING BOOKS IN MERRILL LIBRARY
A. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS (LCSH)
One of the first steps in locating books is understanding the
uses of the Library of
Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) since most searches are by subject rather than by
author or title.
The Library of Congress Subject Headings is a four-volunie set in red binding located
on the tables near MERLIN. These volumes list the terms/words/subject headings
which are used to index materials in most academic library catalogs. Seemingly appro-
priate terms may not match the headings used by LCSH. Some selection must be
made in the use of terminology in order to provide access to an enormous amount of in-
formation. There must be a limit to the terms used! Therefore, when searching by
subject on MERLIN Book Collection (OPAC), the online catalog, be sure to check for
correct subject terminology.
The symbols used in the LCSH are:
BT broader terms
NT narrower terms
USE Use
RT related terms
UF used for
The following is a selection of a subject heading as listed in LCSH.
Clocks and watches
UF Timepieces
not use these terms.
USED FOR. Do
Use Clocks and watches.
Watches
These are broader
BT
BROADER TERMS.
Chronology
terms which help in locating
Horology
information in a broader area.
These are related
Clock and watch making
RELATED TERMS.
RT
Time measurements
terms and so provide
more information.
These are the
NARROWER TERMS.
Astronomical clocks
NT
terms which refine a
Balance springs
search.
3
Terms after UF (Used For) are NOT USED. The terms listed after USE
are the
terms which must be used. The terms after UF must not be used. When terms
are
listed after IJF, refer to the terms listed in bold.
All terrain vehicles
Off road vehicles
IJF ATV's
USE
All terrain vehicles
off-road vehicles
Explore LCSH for topic headings on a research topic. Locate the exact terms needed
for a topic. LCSH offers new avenues for research through the NT, BT, and RT terms.
B. MERLIN (MERRILL LIBRARY'S INFORMATION NETWORK)
MERLIN is Merrill Library's Online Catalog. A computer database, it is located on the
2nd floor of Merrill Library near the Reference Desk. Other online catalog stations are
available throughout the library. MERLIN is a network of information databases.
Consult the listing and select OPAC--the Merrill Library Book Collections for searching
for information in books and U. S. Government Documents.
The LIBRARY or CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS become very important in
searching in the Book Collection (OPAC). As a computerized catalog, OPAC
will only respond or search under the terms indexed. If a term is used which is not a
recognized subject heading, valuable material may be missed. If the title is not correct
or if the author's name is misspelled, the material will not be retrieved. The impor-
tance of subject headings/terminology and correct wording is very evident in searching
on any of the online indexes or the CD-ROM databases available in the library.
SEARCHING CN MERLIN
Practice searching on MERLIN's "OPAC" Book Collection. Examine the following
search screen which introduces MERLIN.
.1111"
Welcome to the Online Catalog!
To search by :
Use the following command:
A-
Author
Title
Tim
S.
Subject
Keyword
Kis
Call number
Cis
You may begin a new search on any screen.
For more information searching in the Catalog, press <ENTER>.
For Library News, type NEWS and press <ENTER>
4
Search Methods:
1. AUTHOR. By typing A and space (or the = sign)
and the author's name. Be sure to begin with the author's last name first.
A=Simmonds A J (omit all punctuation)
2. TITLE. By typing T and space (or the" =" sign) and the main title. (Omit any be
ginning articles such as a. an. and
T Gentile Comes to Cache Valley (Omit "a" or "the")
Continue in the same manner for subject, keyword searching or call number
searching.
S Cache County(subject)
K Cache(keyword)
C BX8611.S5(LC call number)
CD 398.2 (Dewey decimal number)
In searching by title or by author, any misspelling or omissions will lead to incorrect
information. It is a good idea to search for mat_lials in different ways--author, title,
subject or keyword for the material may be listed in a different way. Remember the
computer cannot think and only responds to the exact request.
_Krjr berms
KEYWORD SEARCHING
Keyword searching can be helpful in locating materials when there is no accurate title
or when it is difficult to identify the correct subject heading.
Let's search for material on Aboriginal Indians
Searching under the subject "ABORIGINAL" does not produce any matching records.
The term "ABORIGINAL" is not a recognized subject heading. It is difficult to deter-
mine the correct terminology for "ABORIGINAL" -- yet there may be titles or notes
which include this word. Searching under the KEYWORD may locate these. Note the
results of a keyword search using "ABORIGINAL" as the keyword.
5
Search Request: K=Aboriginal
USU LIBRARY COLLECTION
Search Results: 99 Entries Found
Keyword Index
TITLE:
DATE
AUTHOR
Cultural Diverity among aboriginal
Binford, Lewis Robe
1991
1.
Aboriginal peoples and politics
Tennant, Paul
1990
2.
Dreamings: the art of aboriginal
1988
3.
Encountering aborigines; a case
Burridge, Kenelm
66.
1973
There are 99 books listed having the keyword "aboriginal." Select the title most
applicable to the search. Then type the number and enter the selection by press-
ing the return/enter key.
The next screen will present the author and title, the location and status of the
book and other information whichmay be used to locate more material!
Search Request: K=ABORIGINAL
USU LIBRARY COLLECT.I,N
BOOK - Record 66 of 99 Entries Found
Brief View
Author:
Burridge, Kenelm.
Encountering aborigines; a case study:
Title:
anthropology and the Australian aboriginal.
Edition
2d ed.
New York : St Martin's Press, 1978
Published:
c1977.
,
4411101104.111
011
Status
(Location
1. Merrill Library
Not checked out
Stacks--
<F6> NEXt record
STARt over
LONg View
HELp
<FS> PREVious record
INDex
Other Options
Typing the COMMAND "LON" retrieves the long view.
LON +0/
NEXT COMMAND:
This screen displays a BRIEF RECORD showing the information needed to locate
the selected material. This includes the library owning this book (Merrill), the call
number (GN666.B87) and whether the books is in the library or is on loan
(status). The location, the call number and the "status" are circled in the above il-
lustration.
6
To review the complete record which includes subject headings and
special notes as to whether the book has a bibliography or illustrationl, it is most impor-
tant to request the LONG VIEW. Request the LONG VIEW BY TYPING THE
COMMAND "LO" or "LON" AFTER THE PHRASE "NEXT COMMAND."
Search Request: K=ABORIGINAL
USU LIBRARY COLLECTION
BOOK - Record 30 of 99 Entries Found
Long View
Author:
Burridge, Kenelm.
Title:
Encountering aborigines; a case study:
anthropology and the Australian aboriginal.
Edition
2d ed.
New York : St Martin's Press, 1978
Published:
,
c1977.
Description:
xxii, 185 p., <1> leaf of plates ; maps ; 22 cm.
Subjects: Australian aborigines
Ethnology--Philosophy
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Notes:
STARt over BRIef View
<F8> FORWARD page
HELp
INDex
Other Options
NEXT COMMAND:
The subject listings are highlighted. The subject headings for this book are:
1. Australian aborigines
2. EthnologyPhilosophy.
By requesting the LONG VIEW, or the full record, specific subject headings are listed
whkh can in turn be used to locate other books! We began the search using the keyword
"aboriginal." By searching under this keyword, we located titles which included this
keyword perhaps in the title or notes. By locating and retrieving just one of these titles,
two Library of Congress subject headings are shown. The following screen clearly illus-
trates that this strategy can offer still more opportunities to browse and select material.