Demystifying Demystifying Library Library DatabasesDatabases

Or…Or…What you don’t know What you don’t know

cancan hurt you. hurt you.

LJG 9/24/04

Did you know…Did you know…

Pew study on Internet & American Life Pew study on Internet & American Life indicates that 86% of US college students indicates that 86% of US college students use the Internet for schoolwork, email etc.use the Internet for schoolwork, email etc.

73% of students reported they use the 73% of students reported they use the Internet Internet moremore than the Library for research. than the Library for research.

OCLC study reported OCLC study reported 58% believe that there 58% believe that there is no difference in reliability of information is no difference in reliability of information from ad-sponsored sites vs. ad-free sitesfrom ad-sponsored sites vs. ad-free sites and and 50% of respondents agree that web 50% of respondents agree that web information is acceptable for assignments.information is acceptable for assignments.

Do your professors agree?Do your professors agree?

They know all information is NOT They know all information is NOT of equal value.of equal value.

Scholarly journals and peer Scholarly journals and peer reviewed publications are reviewed publications are preferred by 100%* of college preferred by 100%* of college faculty!faculty!

*OK, so I made that one up.*OK, so I made that one up.

Research is a Research is a ProcessProcess

They expect you to:They expect you to: ThinkThink about your topic. about your topic. DefineDefine your research topic. your research topic. Determine your Information Determine your Information needsneeds.. Locate and Locate and Retrieve RelevantRetrieve Relevant Info Info.. Use technologyUse technology to access information. to access information. EvaluateEvaluate Information. Information. Use it Use it ethicallyethically (e.g., copyright and (e.g., copyright and

plagiarism).plagiarism).

The “Invisible Web”:The “Invisible Web”:

““...there are about 500 billion pages of ...there are about 500 billion pages of information available on the web, and information available on the web, and only 1/500 of that information can be only 1/500 of that information can be reached via traditional search engines”reached via traditional search engines”

Source; “Invisible Web gets Deeper” Source; “Invisible Web gets Deeper” SearchEngineWatch, August 2002 SearchEngineWatch, August 2002 http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/00/08-deepweb.htmlhttp://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/00/08-deepweb.html

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Overview of Invisible Web and Overview of Invisible Web and Library Computer Resources Library Computer Resources

Common elements in Common elements in database searching and database searching and search featuressearch features

Remote AccessRemote Access Sample searchesSample searches

Let’s compare results

Web keywords: incest daughters and fathers

Catalog subject: incest

Search Engines v DatabasesSearch Engines v Databases

Almost any Almost any keywords will workkeywords will work

Too many results Too many results means you should means you should add more specific add more specific termsterms

YOU must judge YOU must judge accuracy & accuracy & credibilitycredibility

Searches are Searches are structuredstructured

Subject headings Subject headings give best resultsgive best results

Searches can be Searches can be limited and limited and refinedrefined

Index Index scholarly/peer scholarly/peer reviewed sourcesreviewed sources

Most have searchable fields that Most have searchable fields that areare“bibliographic.”“bibliographic.” They give you They give you a citation and/or abstract to a book a citation and/or abstract to a book or journal article. You must then or journal article. You must then locate the journal or book at CSUS locate the journal or book at CSUS or use Interlibrary Loan.or use Interlibrary Loan.

A growing, number of databases are A growing, number of databases are “full text”“full text” that have articles that that have articles that can be downloaded to disk, printed can be downloaded to disk, printed or even emailed.or even emailed.

Library Database Library Database TypesTypes

Links from articles to Full TextLinks from articles to Full Text CSUS Journal Locator ListCSUS Journal Locator List Beta version 2.2Beta version 2.2 SFX – new service under SFX – new service under

implementationimplementation

You can search by the You can search by the following database fields:following database fields:

Keywords - within the entire record.Keywords - within the entire record. Author (last name, first name).Author (last name, first name). Title of article or book.Title of article or book. Subject headings.Subject headings. Source or Periodical Title.Source or Periodical Title. Keywords within an abstract.Keywords within an abstract. Keywords within Full-text. Keywords within Full-text.

You can search You can search anyany database, if you know:database, if you know:

Keyword vs. controlled Keyword vs. controlled vocabulary.vocabulary.

Boolean search language.Boolean search language. Proximity searching.Proximity searching. Limiting.Limiting. and...and...

READ READ THE THE

SCREENSCREEN !!READ READ THE THE

SCREENSCREEN

ifif you...you...

Help screensHelp screens Most databases provide screens Most databases provide screens

with detailed instructions on how with detailed instructions on how to search most effectively.to search most effectively.

IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO READ THESE HELP SCREENS FIRST READ THESE HELP SCREENS FIRST BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR SEARCH BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR SEARCH IN A NEW DATABASE !!!IN A NEW DATABASE !!!

Clues to look for:Clues to look for:Guide, ? Help, Search Guide, ? Help, Search Tips.Tips.

Boolean or Logical OperatorsBoolean or Logical Operators

AND AND requires requires bothboth terms appear in terms appear in the items that are retrieved.the items that are retrieved.

OROR requires either term appear in requires either term appear in the items that are retrieved.the items that are retrieved.

NOTNOT excludes a term.excludes a term.

Boolean Search StrategyBoolean Search Strategy

bbaa

ccaa

aabb

aa ANDAND bb

aa OROR cc

aa NOTNOT bb

familyfamily and and violenceviolence

familyfamily oror domesticdomestic

familyfamily not not violenceviolence

Advanced or Guided Searching Advanced or Guided Searching

Frequent searchers who are Frequent searchers who are familiar with a database may familiar with a database may choose the Advanced or Guided choose the Advanced or Guided Search mode.Search mode.

This usually allows boolean This usually allows boolean searching in Fields using a pull searching in Fields using a pull down menu.down menu.

Most Web-based databases Most Web-based databases provide an advanced search mode provide an advanced search mode as well. as well.

You can email results!You can email results!

Most databases and catalogs allow Most databases and catalogs allow you to mark your search result list you to mark your search result list and either print the file or send it and either print the file or send it as an email message.as an email message.

You can then copy and paste the You can then copy and paste the citations into your word processing citations into your word processing document and save yourself from document and save yourself from typing your bibliography.typing your bibliography.

This works for both citations and This works for both citations and full-text articles. full-text articles.

PrintSmart Laser PrintersPrintSmart Laser Printers

All campus labs and Library public All campus labs and Library public terminals use laser printers called terminals use laser printers called “PrintSmart”.“PrintSmart”.

Each full-time CSUS student has Each full-time CSUS student has $5.00 credit on their OneCard per $5.00 credit on their OneCard per semester for 100 semester for 100 freefree copies. copies. After that the regular OneCard After that the regular OneCard cash account is debited for cash account is debited for copies.copies.

CSUS Remote Access:CSUS Remote Access:

Anyone can Anyone can access EUREKA access EUREKA and the Library and the Library Home Page on Home Page on the Web. the Web.

Only Only authenticatedauthenticated users can access users can access most CSUS most CSUS Library Library Databases.Databases.

New AuthenticationNew Authentication

Access to databases is authenti- Access to databases is authenti- cated by their Internet Protocol (IP) cated by their Internet Protocol (IP) address.address.

CSUS users with other Internet CSUS users with other Internet Service Providers (AOL, Prodigy Service Providers (AOL, Prodigy etc.) can now keep their ISP and etc.) can now keep their ISP and authenticate by using the SacLink authenticate by using the SacLink login and password.login and password.

VPN software can also be VPN software can also be downloaded for authentication.downloaded for authentication.

This PowerPoint presentation This PowerPoint presentation was prepared by:was prepared by:

Linda J. GoffLinda J. GoffHead of Instructional ServicesHead of Instructional Services

California State University, California State University, Sacramento Sacramento

LibraryLibraryljgoff@csus.edu ljgoff@csus.edu (916) 278-5981(916) 278-5981

9/24/20049/24/2004