BIO 122: ZoologyLife History Paper

Types of Resources

• Encyclopedias and other reference books

• Monographs (books)

• Scientific Journals

• Internet Websites

Sample Reference Sources in Wessels Library

• Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia• Grzimek’s Encyclopedia - Mammals• Complete Birds of North America• Walker’s Mammals of the World• The Mammals of North America

*All can be found in the ReferenceRoom (with the computers)

Finding books in Wessels Library

* Wessels Library uses Library of Congress classification

* Call numbers will start with 1 or 2 letters

• Class “Q” = Science• Subclass “QL” = Zoology

You can browse “QL” in the

Reference stacks for more choices

Searching the Online Catalog

• Start with specific topic– Example: Polar bear

• Move to more general searches for more information– Bears– Mammals– Arctic

Some Scientific Periodicals in Print

• American Zoologist• Audubon• Nature• Science• Scientific American

*Located in the basement inalphabetical order by title

Electronic Databases

• EBSCO Animals• Science Resource Center• AccessScience• Academic OneFile• Academic Search Premier• Expanded Academic• Gale Virtual Reference Library

Search for scientific journals and online reference articles

Sample search in EBSCO Animals…

Print, email & save

Sample search in Science Resource Center

Tabs for different types of sources

Search tips for Databases

• Try using “Boolean operators” to combine search terms

• Operators are:– AND– OR– NOT

The Boolean Operators

“AND” combines terms so that your results will include ALL of the search terms you enter:

– whales and predators

– elephants and economic

The Boolean Operators

“OR” combines terms so that your results will include at least one of the search terms you enter:

– reproduction or gestation

– predators or parasites

“NOT” combines terms so that your results will include the first search term but NOT the second:

– lions not “sea lions”

– elephants not Asia

The Boolean Operators

Should eliminate some irrelevant results

Both terms must be present in search results

Searching the Internet

• Just like the databases, internet search engines like Google let you:

– Combine terms– Search exact phrases– Eliminate irrelevant words

Evaluating Internet Resources

• Authority– Who wrote it? What are their credentials?

• Accuracy– Is the content accurate and verifiable? Does it include

citations when necessary?

• Objectivity– Is it free of bias? Does it present a balanced argument?

Does it include advertising?

• Currency– Is the information current? When was it last updated?

• Coverage– Is the information relevant to your topic? Who is the

intended audience?

Understanding Web AddressesDifferent endings mean different things:

-.com (U.S. “commercial” site)-.org (U.S. “organization” site)-.net (U.S. “network” site)-.edu (U.S. “education” site)-.gov (U.S. “government” site)

Can these help you answer any of the five questions?

Today’s Speaker….

Kathy Snediker

Wessels LibraryAssoc. Director for Public Services

Phone: 321-5231 (or X-5231)Email:Kathy.Snediker@newberry.edu

Thanks for your time and attention…

We look forward to helping you with your research in

WESSELS Library!

Stop by anytime to ask for

assistance. We’re happy to

help!