Towson Opportunities in STEM Fall 2011

LAKSAMEE PUTNAMLPUTNAM@TOWSON.EDU

RESEARCH & INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN

TOPS: Finding Scientific Information Using Cook Library

First…

Laksamee Putnamlputnam@towson.eduCook Library Reference:

410.704.2462. IM/email

Phone: 410.704.3746.

Take away…

Tour the library

Finding books/articles in the Cook Library

Search strategies and Search tips

Evaluate the information

Cite your sources

Scavenger hunt

Where do you start your search?

http://bit.ly/topsPoll

http://bit.ly/topsPollsubmit

Searching the Catalog

Cook Library

Research

Library Catalogs

Advanced Search Options

Location Call number Library Map

Other locations Reserves Interlibrary loan (Illiad) Request

Searching Databases

Cook Library

Subject Gateways

Biology

Chemistry

Computer Science

MB3

etc

Peer-reviewed articles in multiple journals

Journals Towson: 235 journals with the

word Biology in the title

Databases Science Citation Index: 6,650

journals on a variety of scientific disciplines

Research vs Review

Preparing to Search

Articulate your topic Choose important ideas Identify keywords

Find background information Reference books Websites

Gather, organize and narrow it down

Preparing to Search

Brainstorm Synonyms More specific terms Broader concepts

Use broader terms for BooksUse narrower terms for Articles

Example: Encyclopedia of Earth

Search Tips

Boolean “search connectors” Mammals AND Evolution

Climate Change OR Global warming

Search Tips

Similar ideas … different words Phone

Cellphone Cell phone Cellular telephone Wireless phone Mobile Smartphone

Truncation Technolog*

Technolog-y Technolog-ist Technolog-ical Technolog-ically

Evaluate

Authority

Currency

Objectivity

Scope

Usability

Examples Pacific Northwest Tree

Octopus

RYT Hospital

Writing and Citing Resources

Cook Library

Quick Tools

Citing Sources

Allows your readers to verify and identify where the information and ideas in your paper originated

Gives credit to the owners of the ideas (avoiding plagiarism)

Provides a connection between your research and the research of related sources

Citing your sources

Towson Policyhttp://www.towson.edu/studentaffairs/policies/academicinte

grity.asp

Two strike policy

100 cases a year reported

Possible suspension

Remember …

Search strategies and Search tips

Finding books/articles in the Cook Library

Evaluate the information

Cite your sources

Questions?

Feel free to contact me: Laksamee Putnam lputnam@towson.edu 410.704.3746. Twitter: @LibrarianLaks

Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat