Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
LAKSAMEE [email protected]
RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN
COSC 111: Finding Information Using Cook Library
First…
Laksamee [email protected] Library Reference:
410.704.2462. IM/email
Phone: 410.704.3746.Twitter: @CookLibraryofTUAlbert S. Cook facebook profile!
On the side …
Library Book Sale April 1st – April 6th
Mark Bowden talk Author of “Black Hawk
Down” April 11th, 6-7:30PM, West
Village Commons 404
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” Book Club April 19th, 12:30-1:30, Cook
507
Take Away…
Evaluate Resources
Search strategies and Search tips
Finding books: Cook Library Catalog
Finding articles: Databases
http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html
Evaluate
Check for CRAPCurrencyReliabilityAuthorityPurpose/Point of
View
Examples http://bit.ly/cosmicweb1
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb2
http://bit.ly/cosmicweb3
Currency How recent is the
information? Can you locate a date
when the resource was written/created/updated?
Based on your topic, is this current enough?
Why might the date matter for your topic?
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloeveryone123/3937374193/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Reliability What kind of
information is included in the resource?
Does the author provide citations & references for quotations & data
Where are you accessing this information?
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schnappi/5930145952/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Authority Can you determine who
the author/creator is? What are their
credentials (education, affiliation, experience, etc.)?
Who is the publisher or sponsor of the work/site?
Is this publisher/sponsor reputable
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://rantchick.com/a-doctrine-on-respect/
Purpose/Point of View Is the content
primarily opinion? Is the information
balanced or biased? What is the purpose of
the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade
Check for CRAP
Guidelines for CRAP provided by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5484085301/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Preparing to Search
Articulate your topic
Brainstorm
Strategize where to search
research skills ≠ needle in the haystack
Technology Brainstorming
What kinds of (information) technologies?
Technologies used to achieve specific goals Encourage communication or learning, etc.
Targeted towards certain populations Business or college students, etc.
Search Terms and Keyword Reminders
Keywords come from the search question
Use Boolean “search connectors” to combine keywords in ways that capture the results you need
Use broader terms/concepts when looking for BOOKS.
Use narrower terms when looking for ARTICLES.
Formulating a Keyword Search
1. Choose a Topic
Formulating a Keyword Search
1. Choose a Topic The success of Apple products
Formulating a Keyword Search
2. Narrow/Broaden your search
Formulating a Keyword Search
2. Narrow/Broaden your search How Apple created and marketed its products
successfully
Formulating a Keyword Search
3. Identify the key concepts
Formulating a Keyword Search
3. Identify the key concepts Apple
Marketing
Created
Products
Success
Formulating a Keyword Search
4. Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms
Products
Success
Apple
Marketing
Created
Formulating a Keyword Search
4. Consider synonyms/alternative spellings for terms
Products Brand Invention Iphone
Success Achievement Fortune Fame Progress
Apple Apple Inc. Mac
Marketing Market Advertise Retail
Created Innovate Design Build
CellphoneCell phoneCellular telephoneWireless phoneMobileSmartphone
Similar ideas….different words
Formulating a Keyword Search
5. Formulate your search utilizing various combinations of your words
String them together using AND/OR/NOT
Truncate *
Phrase Searching
Formulating a Keyword Search
6. Limit your search
Appropriate date range
Subject
Publication type
Good searching starts with good keywords
Boolean “search connectors”
AND OR NOT
For example:
spam AND internet security• Combining >1 topic
OLED OR organic light emitting diodes
• Combining synonymous terms
What AND does…
spam AND internet security
What OR does…
organic light emitting diodes
OLED OR organic light emitting diodes
OLED
Don’t forget: Truncation helps
technolog* finds…
technologtechnologtechnologtechnologtechnolog
yiesistsicalically
…etc!
Phrase Searching
Use quotations to keep a keyword phrase intact (words will be searched in the specific order)
Examples: “Bank of America” “Cisco Systems”
Putting it all together…
How Apple created and marketed its products successfully?
Apple“Apple Inc.”
Mac
Market*advertise
retail
Successinnovateprogress
Apple OR “Apple Inc.” OR Mac
AND
market* OR advertise OR retail
AND
success OR innovate OR progress
Keywords come from the search question
Use Boolean “search connectors” to combine keywords in ways that capture the results you need
Use broader terms/concepts when looking for BOOKS.
Use narrower terms when looking for ARTICLES.
Search Terms and Keyword Reminders
Towson Catalog Collection and Call
Number
USMAI Combined Catalog Requests
TU WorldCat
Interlibrary Loan (Illiad)
Finding Books
Searching Databases
Cook Library
Subject Gateways
Computer Science
From: Scholarly Journals Magazines (inc. Trade Publications) Newspapers
Peer-reviewed articles in multiple journals
Journals Towson: 64 journals with the words
“Computer Science” in the title
Databases Computer Science Index: 500 journals
on a variety of topics
Let’s start searching!
Come up with keywords for your topic
Find a website – Check for CRAP
Find a book – Check for CRAP
Find an article – Check for CRAP
As you are finding information on your topic please fill in the Google Doc worksheet http://bit.ly/cosc111sp12b
Questions?
Feel free to contact me: Laksamee Putnam [email protected] 410.704.3746. Twitter: @LibrarianLaks
Or any reference librarian: Visit Cook Library Reference Desk 410.704.2462. IM – tucookchat
