McNeese State University
LIBRARY


Library Tutorial & Answer Sheet

Introduction

This exercise shows you how to use some of the electronic resources offered by the McNeese Library, including the Library Catalog, EBSCOhost Academic Complete (a company offering multiple indices to periodical articles), and the World Wide Web.

Class Information

Please fill out the following fields so that you may be given credit for completing this exercise:

1. Your Name?
2. Your e-mail?
3. Your Instructor?



Part 1: Library Catalog

The LOUIS (The Louisiana Library Network) online library catalog is called iLink and can be used to locate books, journals, and other materials held by the library.

To access the Library Catalog click here.

Several different types of searches are available from the pull-down menu: WORDS OR PHRASE, AUTHOR, TITLE, SUBJECT, SERIES, and PERIODICAL TITLE. However, WORDS OR PHRASE (or keyword) searching is used most often. This searches your term or phrase in multiple fields, including the AUTHOR, TITLE, and SUBJECT fields.

To execute a keyword search, make sure the default WORDS OR PHRASE option is chosen and enter your term(s) in the box. Then click SEARCH.

EXAMPLE: If you were interested in items on guns in high schools, you might type in "guns and schools" and click SEARCH.

Choose one of the records by clicking on the "full details" link next to it and then answer Questions 1 through 9:

1. What is your search statement?
2. How many records did you receive?
3. Who is the author(s) of the chosen record?
4. What is the title of the item?
5. When was the work published?
6. What is the call number?
7. What is the location of the work?
8. Is the title checked-out or is it available?
9. What is one of the subject headings?

Start a new search by clicking on the NEW SEARCH button at the top of the screen. Do a subject search by choosing the word, subject, from the pull-down menu and type your subject heading. To determine an appropriate subject heading, you may use the Library of Congress Subject Headings books in the Reference Department, or just try a subject and see if it works or provides a cross-reference to the correct subject heading. An example might be SCHOOL VIOLENCE UNITED STATES PREVENTION (you do not need to capitalize letters).

Now continue on to Part 2, EBSCOhost Academic Search Complete.

Part 2: EBSCOhost Academic Search Complete

EBSCOhost Academic Complete includes a selection of periodical index databases that provide citations or full-text (the whole article) to newspaper, magazine and journal articles.

To access EBSCOhost Academic Complete, click here.

Before beginning to search with EBSCOhost, it would be helpful to focus-in on the topic. The following are some good questions to consider. For an example, let's use the topic GUN CONTROL.

Now please answer questions 1 through 4:

1. What is your topic?
2. What question do you want to answer about your topic?
3. What keywords describe your topic?
4. What additional keywords could help you narrow your search?

Read the EBSCOhost database descriptions and consider the different databases, and then answer Question 5:

5. Which database is the most appropriate for your topic?

Open the database you have chosen by checking the box next to it and then selecting “continue.” The default search setting in EBSCOhost is a KEYWORD search. Use AND to narrow the focus of your search or use OR to broaden your search.

For example, GUNS AND SCHOOLS will find articles that contain both the words guns and schools, while GUNS OR SCHOOLS will find articles that contain at least one of the words. Alternatively, a more detailed search may be made by clicking on the "Advanced Search" tab. With an advanced search you may search for words in specific fields such as author, title, and subject.

Now please perform your search and answer Question 6:

6. What are your search terms?

Examine the list of citations you retrieved with your search. Read the citations carefully, paying attention to the article title and journal in which it is located. Choose an article that best suits your information need.

Please note that some entries contain only a citation or abstract (summary) of the article. Other entries contain the full text of the article.

Now please answer Questions 7 through 9:

7. How many records (citations) did you receive?
8. Enter the complete citation of one of the articles found: the article author, title, journal, date, volume, issue, and page numbers.
9. Is the complete article (full text) available in EBSCOhost?

Now continue on to Part 3, ERIC.

Part 3: ERIC

The ERIC database is the largest index of educational materials available. The database contains journal articles and documents on topics in education, teaching guides, research reports, tests and evaluation instruments.

To access ERIC, click here.

Before using ERIC, choose a topic (for example, SPECIAL EDUCATION). Enter your search topic in the box at the top of the page and click SEARCH.

Notice that each record has an identification number beginning with an ED or an EJ and followed by a six digit number. The J or D in the record number indicates whether the item is from a journal resource (EJ) or from a non-journal resource (ED).

Now answer Questions 1 through 5:

1. What is your search topic?
2. How many records (citations) did you retrieve?
3. Choose a record. What is the identification number?
4. Is this a journal article?
5. What is the title of this item?

Now continue on to Part 4, Examining the World Wide Web.

Part 4: Examining the World Wide Web

In this exercise we are going to explore navigating the World Wide Web (WWW).

The World Wide Web is a global network of interconnected computers. Anyone can post information, so you must be careful about what you choose to support your research or personal information needs.

At the end of most web site's addresses (Uniform Resource Locator or just simply URL), there is a three letter ending which identifies the site type. Two letter endings indicate the country or state of origin.

The endings most often used are:

Now view an education site by going to http://www.mcneese.edu and then answer Questions 1 and 2:

1. Whose web site is this?
2. What type of information do they provide?

View a commercial site by going to http://www.amazon.com and then answer Questions 3 and 4:

3. Whose web site is this?
4. What type of information do they provide?

View an organization site by going to http://www.redcross.org and then answer Questions 5 and 6:

5. Whose web site is this?
6. What type of information do they provide?

View a government site by going to http://www.whitehouse.gov and then answer Questions 7 and 8:

7. Whose web site is this?
8. What type of information do they provide?

Now continue on to Part 5, Searching the World Wide Web.

Part 5: Searching the World Wide Web

Go to a web search engine of your choice or select by clicking here.

Now please answer Questions 1 through 7:

1. Which search engine did you choose?
2. What is your search statement?
3. What kind of information is available at the site you found?
4. Who created or is responsible for the site?
5. What is the URL (web address)?
6. What type of site is this (look at the three letter suffix)?
7. Briefly state why this web site would or would not be a good source for a research paper on your topic.

Print a copy of this answer sheet (with your responses written-in) and turn-in to your instructor!