Basic introduction to finding library resources

Editor's Notes

• #3: You can access the catalog two ways. You can go through Panther Web, which will log you on automatically, or by going to the Library’s web page and clicking on the book, ebooks, catalog.
• #4: Select Lake Worth, but you can change campuses or search multiple campuses or colleges once in the catalog.
• #5: Panther Web will log you on automatically. If you go through the web site be sure to log in with your barcode on your student id and your pin number, the last four digits of your SS. Being logged in will allow you to request books and access online eBooks and articles.
• #6: To begin your search you will start with our catalog. You can do your search on this initial page but let’s go to advanced search for more options.
• #7: In advanced search you can limit to publication year, material type, and location. You can also limit your search by using multiple keywords. Let’s use the example of healthcare reform.
• #8: Healthcare reform has seen much change and controversies in recent years, so lets look for more recent items, in this case we will go back five years.
• #9: You can search many formats, but we will begin by searching for books. If you need a book from another campus or college you will want to request the material early in your research process to all allow them time to arrive.
• #10: You have several search options. If you are looking for a particular book you can search by title or you can search by author. Keyword searches will give you the most results, so let’s begin there.
• #11: We are going to search the keywords healthcare and in the second box reform. The search will have to retrieve both keywords, so the more keyword boxes you use the more specific you results will be.
• #12: This search results in 22 books being found at the Lake Worth Campus. The results are ranked by relevance by default.
• #16: Many students tell me they can not find anything on a particular subject. One of the mistakes that are often made is using just a few keywords. You need to find synonyms to find different, and often better results. If you use the details tab of an item found in your search results you will find detailed subject headings. Notice there is a subject Health care (two words) reform and United States. Let’s go back to the top of the page to try those search terms.
• #17: Since we are using the subject found in the details tab, let’s try a subject search. Subject searches can sometimes lead to less results than a keyword search, but the results are usually more specific to your topic.
• #18: When using a phrase, two or more words like health care reform, select is (exact) so those terms are found together in the search.
• #19: Little changes like healthcare changed from one word to two, can make a big difference in the results you will find.
• #20: To find the book, click on the location tab. See what collection it belongs to. If it is Circulation, you can check the item out. Then see that is available and write down the call number, in this case RA……
• #21: Remember that you logged on earlier, so you can go back to your search and search all Palm Beach State College campus libraries and request items be sent to Lake Worth.
• #22: This will give you more items to chose from.
• #23: Click on the request item tab when you see the item is only available at another campus. Select the pick up location and press hold.
• #24: If you are not finding enough materials at PBSC, you can find even more items by searching the 28 state colleges.
• #25: This provides many more results.
• #26: By default PBSC items will show up first, so you many have to go through many pages or change the way the results are sorted to find items at other libraries. Click on the request item tab to have an item sent from another college to the Lake Worth Campus.
• #30: American cross roads
• #32: Again you can go to the databases from Panther Web or from the library’s web site. When using the web site go to the libraries’ homepage, then go to Articles and Databases.
• #33: You can browse the list or in this case will click on O to go to the Opposing Viewpoints database.
• #34: Click on the off campus link if accessing from home.
• #35: Opposing Viewpoints has articles focused on argumentative, controversial topics. If you do not have a topic use the browse tab to get some ideas.
• #37: Let’s use the same keywords we used in the catalog. Notice there is no is (exact) option, but you can still search for a phrase by using quotation marks. This is true in most databases and search engines. The catalog combines you search terms. In Opposing Viewpoints you can use the dropdown menu to the left of the search box to use what are called boolean operators. If you use and, both search terms will need to be found, so the results will be fewer, but more focused. You can use OR if you are unsure what term to search for. A recent example I had was a student searching for articles on the Mafia. In that case we search mafia OR organized crime. Since the OR optino has to only find one of the terms and not both, you will find more results. You can also use Not if you want to exclude a word from showing up in your results.
• #38: Select full text to find articles, not just citations. You can also select peer reviewed if required. If it is not required you should still consider using peer reviewed or academic journals in your college level research papers. Peer reviewed articles come from either academic or professional journals. Articles are reviewed by experts in the field before publishing and often have a bibliography that will lead to other related books or articles.
• #39: Again, with the fast pace of change in our healthcare system, limit your search to within the last couple of years.
• #40: There is not one list of results like you would find in Google or the catalog, but a list of results sorted by format. What makes Opposing Viewpoints unique are the viewpoints articles. These argue for one side of a controversial topic. However, remember to take advantage of the magazines, academic journals, and statistics.
• #41: Clicking on viewpoints will pull up the full list of 55 argumentative articles. Click on the title to see the full text of an article.
• #42: In addition to providing the article, the Opposing Viewpoints Database has many tools to take advantage of.
• #43: After clicking on the email link an email form will appear. You can send the email to any email address, not just your school email.
• #44: In addition to providing the article, the Opposing Viewpoints Database has many tools to take advantage of.
• #45: Opposing Viewpoints has a citation tool as well. It will provide citations in APA or MLA format. Be cautious of any citation tool, be sure to check what they provide versus what your instructor has asked for. Formats can change or databases can simple provide the wrong citation format. Check your Bedford or see a librarian for assistance.
• #46: After selecting the format style Opposing Viewpoints will provide an HTML citation that you can copy and paste into your bibliography or works cited page.
• #47: Below the tools are a table of contents to help you navigate the article. Just like in the catalog, there are also subjects which can help you refine your search terms.
• #48: There is also a further reading section at the bottom of this article. Remember that anytime there is a bibliography or works cited page in an article or book it can lead to related sources.
• #49: At the top of the page you can go back to view all to see the results or click on advanced search to modify your search.