1. Demystifying Library Databases Or… What you don’t know can hurt you. LJG 9/24/04

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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

6. Today’s Agenda  Overview of Invisible Web and Library Computer Resources  Common elements in database searching and search features  Remote Access  Sample searches

7. Let’s compare results Web keywords: incest daughters and fathers Catalog subject: incest

9. Search Engines v Databases  Almost any keywords will work  Too many results means you should add more specific terms  YOU must judge accuracy & credibility  Searches are structured  Subject headings give best results  Searches can be limited and refined  Index scholarly/peer reviewed sources

10.  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. Library Database Types

11. Links from articles to Full Text  CSUS Journal Locator List  Beta version 2.2  SFX – new service under implementation

12. 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.

13. You can search any database, if you know:  Keyword vs. controlled vocabulary.  Boolean search language.  Proximity searching.  Limiting.  and...

14. READ THE SCREEN ! READTHESCREEN if you...

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Boolean Search Strategy b a c a a b a AND b a OR c a NOT b family and violence family or domestic family not violence

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. CSUS Remote Access:  Anyone can access EUREKA and the Library Home Page on the Web.  Only authenticated users can access most CSUS Library Databases.

22. New Authentication  Access to databases is authenti- cated 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.

23. This PowerPoint presentation was prepared by: Linda J. Goff Head of Instructional Services California State University, Sacramento Library ljgoff@csus.edu (916) 278-5981 9/24/2004