Transcript Demystifying Library Databases

Demystifying
Library
Databases
Or…
What you don’t know
can hurt you.
LJG 9/24/04
Did you know…
 Pew study on Internet & American Life
indicates that 86% of US college students
use the Internet for schoolwork, email etc.
 73% of students reported they use the
Internet more than the Library for research.
 OCLC study reported 58% believe that there
is no difference in reliability of information
from ad-sponsored sites vs. ad-free sites
and 50% of respondents agree that web
information is acceptable for assignments.
Do your professors agree?
 They know all information is NOT
of equal value.
 Scholarly journals and peer
reviewed publications are
preferred by 100%* of college
faculty!
 *OK, so I made that one up.
Research is a Process
They expect you to:
 Think about your topic.
 Define your research topic.
 Determine your Information needs.
 Locate and Retrieve Relevant Info.
 Use technology to access information.
 Evaluate Information.
 Use it ethically (e.g., copyright and
plagiarism).
The “Invisible Web”:
“...there are about 500 billion pages of
information available on the web, and
only 1/500 of that information can be
reached via traditional search engines”
Source; “Invisible Web gets Deeper”
SearchEngineWatch, August 2002
http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/00/08-deepweb.html
Today’s Agenda
 Overview of Invisible Web and
Library Computer Resources
 Common elements in
database searching and
search features
 Remote Access
 Sample searches
Let’s
compare
results
Web keywords: incest
daughters and fathers
Catalog subject: incest
Search Engines v
 Almost any
keywords will work
 Too many results
means you should
add more specific
terms
 YOU must judge
accuracy &
credibility
Databases
 Searches are
structured
 Subject headings
give best results
 Searches can be
limited and
refined
 Index
scholarly/peer
reviewed sources
Library Database Types
 Most have searchable fields that
are“bibliographic.” They give you a
citation and/or abstract to a book or
journal article. You must then
locate the journal or book at CSUS
or use Interlibrary Loan.
 A growing, number of databases
are “full text” that have articles that
can be downloaded to disk, printed
or even emailed.
Links from articles to Full Text
 CSUS Journal Locator List
 Beta version 2.2
 SFX – new service under
implementation
You can search by the
following database fields:







Keywords - within the entire record.
Author (last name, first name).
Title of article or book.
Subject headings.
Source or Periodical Title.
Keywords within an abstract.
Keywords within Full-text.
You can search any
database, if you know:
 Keyword vs. controlled
vocabulary.
 Boolean search language.
 Proximity searching.
 Limiting.
 and...
if you...
READ
THE
SCREEN
READ
THE
SCREEN !
Help screens
 Most databases provide screens
with detailed instructions on how
to search most effectively.
 IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO
READ THESE HELP SCREENS
FIRST BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR
SEARCH IN A NEW DATABASE !!!
 Clues to look for:
Guide, ? Help, Search
Tips.
Boolean or Logical Operators
 AND
requires both terms appear in
the items that are retrieved.
 OR
requires either term appear in
the items that are retrieved.
 NOT
excludes a term.
Boolean Search Strategy
a
AND
b
family and violence
a
OR
c
family or domestic
a
NOT
b
family not violence
a
a
a
b
c
b
Advanced or Guided Searching
 Frequent searchers who are
familiar with a database may
choose the Advanced or Guided
Search mode.
 This usually allows boolean
searching in Fields using a pull
down menu.
 Most Web-based databases
provide an advanced search mode
as well.
You can email results!
 Most databases and catalogs allow
you to mark your search result list
and either print the file or send it
as an email message.
 You can then copy and paste the
citations into your word processing
document and save yourself from
typing your bibliography.
 This works for both citations and
full-text articles.
PrintSmart Laser Printers
 All campus labs and Library public
terminals use laser printers called
“PrintSmart”.
 Each full-time CSUS student has
$5.00 credit on their OneCard per
semester for 100 free copies.
After that the regular OneCard
cash account is debited for
copies.
CSUS Remote Access:
 Anyone can
access EUREKA
and the Library
Home Page on
the Web.
 Only
authenticated
users can access
most CSUS
Library
Databases.
New Authentication
 Access to databases is authenticated by their Internet Protocol
(IP) address.
 CSUS users with other Internet
Service Providers (AOL, Prodigy
etc.) can now keep their ISP and
authenticate by using the SacLink
login and password.
 VPN software can also be
downloaded for authentication.
This PowerPoint presentation
was prepared by:
Linda J. Goff
Head of Instructional Services
California State University,
Sacramento
Library
[email protected]
(916) 278-5981
9/24/2004