Pathfinder ProjectUsing Information Structure to

Develop Answering Skill

LIS 601 Introduction to Reference and Information ServicesSpring 2013

Dr. Diane Nahl

University of Hawaii LIS Program

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Pathfinder Project

SIT

WITH

YOUR

PATHFINDER

PARTNER

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Pathfinder Project

� Assignment Instructions pp.5-6

1. Select a partner, library, topic & audience

2. Topics are fairly specific

3. Broad topics cover too much material

4. Hawaii topics might not be well represented

in general databases & reference sources,

but can work as a sub-topic

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Pathfinder Exercise 11. In pairs, examine one Pathfinder (online or

paper) or LIS 601 LibGuide.

2. Read the assignment instructions & locate each numbered requirement on the Pathfinder.

3. Examine & discuss its style, readability & adherence to instructions.

4. Repeat with another pathfinder & compare the two.

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Pathfinder Outline

Identify the partners

Identify the topic

Identify the audience

Identify the library

Identify some LCSH search terms

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Library of CongressSubject Headings LCSH

The Big Red Books (5 volumes, A-Z)

Authorized topic words assigned by LC catalogers

Controlled Vocabulary

Appear in the Subject(s): field of the online catalog record structure

Searchable from within a record (a lateral search strategy)

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LCSH Syndetic StructureCommunal living (May Subd Geog)

[HQ970-HQ972]

Here are entered works on arrangements in voluntary cooperative living, usually informal, including the communes that flourished beginning in the 1960's...UF Communal settlements

Communes

Cooperative living

Counter culture

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LCSH Syndetic Structure

UF = Used For = used instead of

Communal living (is Used For or instead of)

Communal settlements

Communes

Cooperative living

Counter culture

{The UF words & phrases are not LCSH}

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LCSH Syndetic Structure

Communal living [cont.] RT Collective settlements

Housing, CooperativeCommunal marriage USE Group marriageCommunal natural resources USE Natural resources, Communal

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LCSH Syndetic Structure

Communicable diseases (May Subd Geog)

[RA643-RA644 (Public health)]

[RC109-RC216 (Internal medicine)]

BT Diseases

Infection

RT Epidemics

Quarantine

NT Parasitic diseases

Vaccination

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LCSH Syndetic Structure

Communicable diseases [cont.]

SA Individual communicable diseases, e.g. Q fever

--Diagnosis--Hospitals--Prevention

NT Isolation (Hospital care)

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LCSH Subdivisions• Common Form Subdivisions

– Text pp. 45-46– http://library.princeton.edu/departments/tsd/katmandu/reference/

formsubdiv.html

• Standard "Free-floating” & Form Subdivisions:-- Periodicals-- Pictorial works-- Poetry-- Popular works-- Scores-- Sex differences-- Social aspects-- Social life and customs-- Study and teaching-- Statistics

-- Abstracts-- Bibliography-- Biography-- Case studies-- Databases-- Description and travel-- Diaries-- Dictionaries-- Directories-- Encyclopedias

-- Fiction-- Handbooks, manuals, etc.-- History-- Humor-- Indexes-- Interviews-- Juvenile literature-- Law and legislation-- Maps

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LCSH Exercise

1. What is the call number for works on

children?

2. Is Children the appropriate heading

for material about 13 year olds?

3. What heading would you use to find

material on children of Afganistan?

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LCSH Exercise

4. Which terms are not used to search for

materials on children when you want to

do a pure LCSH search?

5. Is Age groups a subdivision under the

heading Children?

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LCSH Exercise

6. What is the appropriate heading for materials on Mozart as a child?

7. Which LCSH term(s) would you use to search for materials on kids who have been molested or mistreated?

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LCSH Exercise

CHILDREN (May Subd Geog)

[HQ767.8-HQ792.2]Here are entered works on people from

birth through twelve years of age.UF Childhood

Pedology (Child study)BT Age groups

Family

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LCSH ExerciseCHILDREN [cont.]SA subdivision Childhood and youth under

names of individual persons; also subdivision Children under individual wars, e.g., World War, 1939-1945--Children

NT Abused children Adopted children Adult children

--Abuse ofUSE Child abuse

--Attitudes--Biography

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Pathfinder Exercise 2

1. Partners work together.

2. Select a preliminary topic & write a few words that describe it.

3. Look them up in LCSH.

4. Examine all Subject Headings related to the topic, follow all SAs, RTs & NTs

5. Write down a set of LCSH terms for the topic to use as a starting point for the search strategy.

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Thinking Through Information Structure

Handouts pp. 2-5 Information Structure of Reference

Sources Categories of Information in

Answer-Providing Sources Data & Access Tools

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Search Work

Search Work (Green) pp. 2-7 Read pp. 2-7 about Search Work & SW1a:

Print Indexes & Abstracts for January 22. No online sources should be used for

Search Work 1A. The 601 Bibliography lists sources to use for

the search work. Search Work assignment begins in class

next week (not for homework this week).

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Due January 22 Email your Pathfinder Outline: partner names, library,

topic, audience & LC Subject Headings

One (1) email message with both partners’ email

address on the header so I can reply to both at once,

paste the Outline in the message

Free Jing account

HANDOUTS pp. 6-13

Read REFERENCE SEARCH WORK pp. 2-7

TEXT CHAPTER 8

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Outline Due January 22From: leonlee@hawaii.eduCC: rhatfield@hawaii.eduSubject: Lee & Hatfield Pathfinder OutlinePartners: Leon Lee and Roberta HatfieldLibrary: Manoa Public LibraryTopic: Solar Energy Solutions for the HomeAudience: Adults interested in reducing their

personal energy usage and energy costs.LCSH: SOLAR ENERGY – COST EFFECTIVENESS;

PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION; SOLAR AIRCONDITIONING; SOLAR BATTERIES