© University of Reading 2007 www.reading.ac.uk/library

Library

Library Questionpool

What is it?

• A set of skills questions that staff can download and use or adapt for use within their existing or new Blackboard courses

• Covers a range of skills – from basic use of the Library to finding and evaluating information

• Written by Library staff for you to use

• Liaison Librarians are happy to work with you to adapt questions to fit a specific subject area

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Sections of the pool

• Using the Library - borrowing, opening hours, contacts, library news, facilities and services eg photocopying and IT

• Finding Information - finding books and journals on Unicorn, finding subject resources including books, and getting help

• E-resources - e-journals, databases, searching techniques, Internet searching

• Special Collections - archives and rare books

• Libraries beyond UoR - inter-library loans and using other libraries

• Study Skills - evaluating resources, referencing, plagiarism, and copyright

What are the questions like?

• The examples below are just a few samples to indicate the range of questions and types of activity. There are multiple choice, hotspot and jumbled sentences as well.

• All questions have feedback for correct and incorrect answers and refer the student to where to find the answer.

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Sample question from Using the Library

Multiple Choice 1 point

Question Where can cards for re-charging your University account be purchased on the Whiteknights campus?

Answers At the Library Reception Desk   In the Students' Union   At Library Information Desks   At the Library Collection Point

Correct Feedback Yes, you can purchase 'top-up' cards at the Reception Desk on the Ground Floor of the Main Library for £3.00 each. At Bulmershe Library ask at the Issue Desk. Check this information under Services and facilities in the Using the Library section of the Library website.

Incorrect Feedback You can purchase 'top-up' cards at the Reception Desk on the Ground Floor of the Main Library for £3.00 each. At Bulmershe Library ask at the Issue Desk. Check this information under Services and facilities in the Using the Library section of the Library website.

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Sample question from Finding Information

Fill in the Blank 1 point  

Question Referring to the More Information section of the Unicorn record for the book:

Thiessen, H.  1997  Measuring the real world : a textbook of applied statistical methods. Chichester: Wiley, 268pp.

What is the missing number from the following statement:

The book includes national socio-economic and environmental statistics from over ? countries.

Answer 140

Correct Feedback Congratulations that is the correct answer!

Incorrect Feedback Sorry wrong answer!

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E-resources pool

Web and referenceThis pool includes questions on finding information from online reference sources and finding reliable information on the web. For questions on evaluating websites see the 'Study skills' pool

Answers to questions 1 - 7 can be found from links on the Library's web page Online dictionaries, encylopedias and other reference sources found in the e-resources section of the Library's web pages.

Questions 9 to 12 relate to information found in the section on the Web in the e-resources section of the Library's web pages

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Sample question from E-resources

Multiple Answer 1 pointSee the Guide to searching databases on the Library

Finding and using information web pages for an explanation of truncation, wildcards and other tips and tricks.

Typing morphologi* into a database will find which of the following words?

morphological  

morphology   morphologism   morphologist

Correct Feedback Correct - but have you noted that potentially you are cutting out an important word - morphology

Incorrect Feedback Check exactly where you have placed the truncation symbol

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Sample question from Special Collections

True/False 1 point  

Question Can all items in Special Collections be searched on Unicorn?

Answer False

Correct Feedback Many older records are still not indexed on Unicorn.

You can search these items using the online card catalogue: www.reading.ac.uk/library/using/catalogues/lib-card-catalogue.asp. There is a link on the right hand of the screen from the collection descriptions too.

Incorrect Feedback Many older records are still not indexed on Unicorn.

You can search these items using the online card catalogue: www.reading.ac.uk/library/using/catalogues/lib-card-catalogue.asp.There is a link on the right hand of the screen from the collection descriptions too.

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Sample question from Libraries beyond UoR

Multiple Answer 2 points The SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) Access scheme

gives reciprocal rights for staff and students of over 170 member institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Which of the following statements about the scheme are correct?

1 Some students can borrow under this scheme but all students can use it for reference access

 2 You need to complete a SCONUL application form to make use of the scheme  

3 There is no limit to the number of SCONUL access libraries you can join

4 The terms and conditions of access and borrowing vary depending on the Institution

Correct Feedback All the statements are true. For more information about the scheme, and to find out which libraries are included and which groups they give access and borrowing rights to, see the SCONUL access page on the Library web site

Incorrect Feedback All the statements are in fact true. (Feedback as above)

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Study Skills poolStudy skills

This pool includes questions on evaluating websites; copyright; plagiarism; and, referencing including how to refer to material in the text of assignments and how to reference it in bibliographies 

The questions in this test can be answered from the following web pages or other sources:

Questions 1 - 10 Library webpage on Evaluating websites and Internet Detective online tutorial (link provided on the evaluating websites page)

Questions 11 - 13 Library webpages on Copyright

Questions 14 - 22 Study advice webpages on Referencing and plagiarism

Question 23 School or department handbook on style of referencing

Questions 24 - 30 Library webpages on Citing references

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Sample question from Study skills

Multiple Choice 2 points Question 4 of 4. See also questions 4, 5 and 6

Is the information given in this website on the health benefits of chocolate reliable?

  Yes  

No   Don't know

Correct Feedback That's right. Although the information looks reliable as it includes facts and figures it is on a website selling chocolate so the information would need to be checked in a more definitely reliable source.

Incorrect Feedback The information may be reliable as it includes facts and figures rather than just opinoins. However, it is on a website selling chocolate so the information would need to be checked in a more definitely reliable source

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What can you do next?

Please check Library Web pages at http://www.reading.ac.uk/library/contact/info-for/staff/blackboard/lib-question-pool.asp

Please contact your Liaison Librarian if you want to work with her/him on questions for your Blackboard courses

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