Introduction to Library Resources and Services

Jennifer ThiessenLiaison Librarian, Education

James A. Gibson LibraryJuly 2012

The James A. Gibson librarySchmon Tower

floors 2, 5-10

IRC

• The IRC (Instructional Resource Centre) – K-12 curriculum material– Emphasis on teaching

• The James A. Gibson Library – Material on the theory, philosophy, history and

practice of education (mostly on 8th floor)– For your papers and projects for your Education

classes– Emphasis on research

Goals for today’s sessionPart I: Library Services

My Library AccountLaptop loansPhotocopying servicesRACERStudy spaceRefWorks

Part II: Library ResourcesCatalogueDatabasesYour Research Guide

My Library Account

My Library Account allows library users to

see a list of items they have signed out

renew and place holds on items

view details of outstanding library fines

log in to library databases from off campus

Setting up My Library Account

• Library website > • My Library Account

• Log in with your Brock username and password

Laptops

The Library currently has 40 laptops available for 4 hour loans from the Circulation Desk.

All laptops have Office software on them.

Laptops can be taken out of the Library.

Photocopying Services

• Photocopy cards

• Colour and transparency copying

• Posters, photos, banners and other large format prints (5th Floor)

RACER

RACER is the Ontario interlibrary loan system.

Borrow books through RACER (pick them up and return them at our Circulation Desk)

Get photocopies of journal articles (yours to keep)

Study spaces on library floors

• The upper floors of the Library (8-10) are designated quiet zones.

• The mid-level floors (5-7) are designated low level talking.

• Graduate Study room (6th floor): study carrels, meeting room

RefWorks

RefWorks is software that allows you to:

Save references to books and articles from our catalogue and our databases.

Automatically create bibliographies or works cited pages in APA style format.

databasereference(s)

* optional *produce bibliography

bibliographic management

software

export

The concept:

Part II: Library Resources in Education

• Books• Journals• Research Guide

Hint: Start with the Research tab.

• Use the Catalogue to find books (both print and e-books)

• Use the Databases to find journal articles.

3/365 Research Aspirations by catspyjamasnz

Catalogue Practice

• Go to the Library Catalogue. Do a keyword search on international students. Now do a keyword search on “international students.” Why is there a difference in results?

• Stay in the Library Catalogue. Do a keyword

search on globalization. Now do a subject search on globalization. Why are the results different?

Click on Education to see a list of databases for that subject area.

Click on Research, then Databases.

Finding Journal articles•Use databases

• Looks for full text in other locations (Does not guarantee full text).

Database Practice

• Find the Education databases. • Open up Education Research Complete. • Do a search on “international students.” How

are the results arranged? How can you limit your results to peer reviewed journal articles?

Your Research Guide• Where to start if you have forgotten

everything I have just said.

Summary Information about library services for graduate students can be found here:

http://www.brocku.ca/library/services-lib/grad-students

The most important services you should know about are: My Library Account RACER RefWorks

Library Resources: Library catalogue – books Library databases – journal articles Research Guide

Contact me if you need help: jthiessen@brocku.ca