MC 4203
Sarah Brick Archer
Assistant Professor of Library Services
L308B
ext. #3267
What is information?
Where does information come from?
Where can it be found?
Maps
Library of Congress
What is the role of the reference librarian?
How do you formulate good questions?
Ask for exactly what you want. If material is not available on the
specific question, then broaden the search. Try to identify the subject
area that it covers. Determine the depth of your information needs.
Identify time periods, geographic regions, interest groups.
How do I find a subject to research?
Browse periodicals, professional web sites. Look for suggestions of needs
for further research. Within a specific discipline, what doesn't make sense
or what interests you? Check for Calls
for Papers in professional journals. Read, read, read. Watch the news
and read the newspaper to determine current issues and events. As you read,
narrow your topic. Ways to narrow a topic include geographically, by date,
by specific interest group, by issue. Do cross disciplinary studies. Explore
personal interests or topics within a major. For instance, if you are interested
in photography explore the role of the photojournalists during war. Are
there any controversial issues concerning this topic?
Why should I do research?
Research can lead to information; information can lead to knowledge, and
knowledge is powerful. All of the informational resources available originated
from someone being curious about something, exploring it, and sharing the
findings. Information can be shared in a variety of formats and examples
are as follows:
| Books |
Shows trends, gives history of topic, provides definitions, theories |
Online Catalog 
WorldCat |
| Journals |
Covers current research on scholarly topics |
NSU
electronic indexes |
| Magazines |
Report on popular topics, news |
Masterfile
Premier, Reader's Guide |
| Newspapers |
Report on popular topics, news |
Newspaper
Source, Newsbank, DataTimes |
| Government Publications |
Publications on all topics prepared by federal and state agencies. |
Government
Information
Marcive Web Docs |
| Audio Visual |
Graphic representation of topic |
Online Catalog |
| Internet |
Provides quick, full text information, especially on current topics. |
 |
| Interviews |
Provides a personal account of a topic |
In person or through e-mail |
What are the differences between subject headings & keywords?
Keyword vs. controlled vocabulary, boolean
logic
What's in a database
How do I locate Internet resources?
Internet Search
Engines Available
Some (hopefully) reliable approaches to finding good Web sources:
The Argus Clearinghouse
The Internet Public Library
Librarians' Index to the Internet
JVL
NSU Subject Listing of Web Resources
Mass
Communications
Assess the quality of the Web sites listed below:
Feline
Reactions to Bearded Men
How do I locate facts?
Many facts are best located by using traditional reference sources.
These may be electronic or in print.
Examples:
Biographical sources: Who's Who in America (Ref. E 663.W56),
Biography
and Genealogy Master Index (Ready Ref. CT 214.B57) , Contemporary
Authors, (Ref. PN 451.C58), encyclopedias (Ref. AE), periodical indexes,
individual Web pages.
Experts: professional associations Encyclopedia of Associations
(Ready Ref. HS 17.G334)
Definitions of terms: dictionaries and specialized subject dictionaries
Facts: Famous First Facts (Ref. AG 5.K315), encyclopedias,
Guinness
World Records (Ref. AG 243.G87)
Statistics:
Statistical Abstract of the United States (Ready Ref. HA 202.2001),
Statistical
Abstract of Oklahoma (Ready Ref. HA 585.O452), census,
govt. sites, almanacs (FirstSearch has an encyclopedia and almanac)
Histories: books
Current trends: journal articles
Medical information: Medlineplus
, Intellihealth
How do I critically assess sources?
1. Identify authors who are outstanding in their fields, determine the
credentials of the author. Does the author have a degree in the field,
is the author a professor?
2. Date of publication--is it recent? On Web pages, do the links work?
3. Does the publisher have a good reputation? Is it published by a
professional association or university press? Is the journal refereed?
On Web pages, check the domain (.edu is educational, .gov is government,
.com is commercial, .net is network, .org is organizational)
4. How was the resource received by the critics?
5. Completeness of the material. Does the source have an index, bibliography?
6. Is the language slanted or biased?
7. Does it include well known facts or research studies? Is the information
complete, accurate, objective?
8. What is the purpose of the resource? Is it for the general
public, children, scholars? Is the goal to market persuade, educate?
How do I find these library resources through the Web?
Many of the resources listed above are available through the John
Vaughan Library Home Page . Through the use of EZ Proxy software, these
resources may be used from any location.
Prepared by Sarah Brick Archer, February 6, 2003.
Return
to Sarah's Instruction Page .