An Adventure in ResearchUsing Beaman Library

Services and ResourcesFall 2010

Beaman Library is your starting point for research

Research materials at your fingertips!

Computers for your convenience!

Study Rooms available to study by yourself or for a group to gather!

Our Library Staff is here for you!

Your Beaman Library Homepage

• Access the library catalog & our electronic resources from any computer

• Ask a Reference Question???

• Find out information about the library or read the latest library newsletter

The Research Process

The research process requires a knowledge of

The locations of information resources How information resources are

organized The tools needed for accessing

information regardless of its format The criteria for evaluating

information retrieved

Information Resources in Beaman Library - Organization

Library of Congress Classification System (LB 2806 .R38)

Designators (Ref, Oversize, Buffington…)

Local Collections (Special Collections, Restoration Collection…)

Information Resources in Beaman Library – access tools

Books

Articles (print & electronic)-Scholarly journal articles-Popular magazine articles-Newspaper articles

Websites

Books!

• Reference Books:• use in library only

• General Collection:• check out for 4 weeks

• eBooks:• must create username

and password on netlibrary.com from a Lipscomb computer before using 1st time!

• access and read online from any computer, anywhere!

To find a Book…

Use…The online catalog• Author Search• Title Search• Subject Search--searches the

Subject Heading field

• Keyword Search--searches everything but the Subject field.

http://library.lipscomb.edu

Articles!

• Scholarly journals-aka “refereed”, “peer-reviewed”, “academic”-articles reviewed and accepted by experts in the field

• Magazines, popular and trade journals-Booklist, Southern Living, GQ

• Newspapers-The Tennessean, Wall Street Journal

To find an Article…Searching

• Search in a print index

• Use one of the databases from the library’s “Electronic Resources” page--On- and off-campus access

• Don’t look for articles in the Catalog!

To find an Article…Sorting

• Citation: gives you the information you need to track down the work

• Abstract: summary of article + citation

• Full Text: complete text of article + citation

To find an Article…Locating

• Found sources in a print index or database? Now, how do you find them?

Locating article…pt. 1

• If the source located was cited in a database…• Check to see if full-text is available

Locating article…pt. 2

• If the source located was cited in a print index or full-text was not available in a database…• Check the journal title in the Catalog by

doing a Title Search to see if Beaman has the journal in print

• Search the journal title in Ebsco A to Z

Locating articles…pt. 3

• If the source is not available in print in Beaman Library or full-text via database…• Check other local libraries (in WorldCat or

Athena) to see if they have the journal in print

• Request the article through Interlibrary Loan (Allow 2 weeks)

Websites!

• Government http://www.epa.govhttp://www.senate.gov

• Military http://www.navy.milhttp://www.defenselink.mil

• Commercialhttp://www.ebay.comhttp://www.sears.com

• Educationhttp://www.lipscomb.eduhttp://www.ttu.edu

To find a Website…Search Engines

• Vast quantities of informationOver 2 billion websites and growing daily

• You find it all…the good, the bad and the ugly…you must EVALUATE!

• Refine your search whenever possibleUse relevant search termsUse phrases when possibleUse quotation marksTry Boolean searches (and, or, not, +, -)

Web Site Evaluation—the WWW’s

Who says it? Author or sponsor? Credentials of responsible party?

“Google” the author or sponsor for more information

Is there a way to determine the origin? Look at the header or footer Look at the URL Look at the domain

Web Site Evaluation—the WWW’s

What does it claim, assert, etc.? Purpose of web site

Informational? Are they trying to sell something?

Biased, objective, fair Is there a political or business agenda?

Factual…in depth Correct grammar, spelling, etc.

Web Site Evaluation—the WWW’s

When was it said?• Publication date• Revisions• Links up-to-date

Review: The Power of Five

What does scholarly research require?

A knowledge of1. The locations of information resources2. Organization of information resources3. The access tools needed for obtaining

information regardless of its format4. The criteria for evaluating information

located5. The rules of scholarly research

(proper citing/respect for copyright)

Remember...

Librarians are here to help

you with your mission!