Introduction to Library Research Skills
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This document provides an overview of resources for conducting academic research, including the steps in the research process, available academic support services, and how to use the Empire State College online library. It outlines 5 steps for conducting research: clarifying the assignment, developing a research question, identifying keywords, understanding basic search techniques, and beginning the research process. It describes academic support services like learning coaches, peer coaches, and content tutors. It provides details on databases and other resources available through the ESC online library, such as EBSCO, JSTOR, and subject guides. It also discusses evaluating information sources and avoiding non-academic sources.
Introduction to Library Research Skills
- 1. Introduction to Library Research Skills Using the Empire State College Online Library to Research & Evaluate Information Sources
- 2. Agenda • Academic Support – What is available? – How to access resources • The Steps in Conducting Academic Research • Using The ESC Library • Evaluating Sources
- 3. The Pieces of Academic Success Rationale Essay Academic Research
- 4. Learning Coaches, Peer Coaches, & Content Tutors • One-to-one appointments in-person or via phone, e-mail, Internet, etc. • Small group assistance (online & onsite) • Online Content Area Tutoring – Smarthinking - www.esc.edu/smarthinking Curricular Support Face-to-Face & Online Support • NEC Academic Support - www.necacademissupport.pbworks.com • Workshops (online & onsite) – www.esc.edu/learningsupport • YouTube – www.youtube.com/NECAcademicSupport • Enhancing the Academic Eye a self-paced or credit-bearing study - http://AcademicEye.pbworks.com • Phasing out Dec 2010-- ANGEL Community Group - NEC Academic Support http://www.esc.edu/ole •Log in with your MyESC Username & Password Academic Support @ NEC Services & Resources Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success
- 5. What is a learning coach? A learning coach is someone who provides academic support to students in one-on-one or small group settings in all areas of the writing process and related study skills strategies including time management, organization, reading efficiency, developing a study plan, goal setting, critical thinking, library research skills, note-taking, and learning styles. Sarah Spence-Staulters is located in Latham working with Schenectady & Latham/Albany students Her hours are: Mondays – 3pm- 7:30pm Wednesdays – 3:00pm-7:30pm Fridays - 9am- 4pm Contact Sarah to make an appointment : (518) 783-6203 ext 5992 or Sarah.Spence-Staulters@esc.edu ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Kate Stockton is located in Latham working with Johnstown & Latham/Albany students Her hours are: Mondays - 4:00pm-7:30pm Wednesday - 4:00pm-7:30pm Thursdays - 4:00pm-8:00pm Contact Kate to make an appointment : (518) 783-6203 ext 5992 or Kate.Stockton@esc.edu Mary Sanders-Shartle is located in Saratoga working with Saratoga & Queensbury students Her hours are: Mondays – 12pm-2pm Wednesdays – 3pm-6pm Thursdays 4pm-6pm Contact Mary to make an appointment : (518) 587-2100 ext 2827 or Mary.Sanders-Shartle@esc.edu ____________________________________________________________________ Meet the Learning Coaches
- 6. Starting in the November Term… peercoaches.pbworks.com
- 7. Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success A peer coach is a current undergraduate or graduate student trained to guide and encourage other students in improving their academic performance and development as a life-long learner, focusing on general study skills, specific content-areas, navigating college resources, and developing within their Areas of Study. They work in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Peer coaches are trained under College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) international standards for peer tutors and are either volunteers, work-study, or practicum students. Academic Support @ NEC
- 9. Steps to Conducting Academic Research • Step 1 – Clarify the Assignment • Step 2 – Develop Research Question/Thesis • Step 3 - Identify Keywords • Step 4 – Understand Basic Search Techniques • Step 5 – Begin Research Process
- 10. Step 1 – Clarify Assignment • Is topic specified? – Consider the … • question(s) you are asked to address/create • discipline through which you are approaching the topic • specific thing(s) you already know/want to know about the topic • What are the basic requirements? – Length of paper required? – Audience for your research – Time you have available to research – What citation format is required? • MLA – Modern Language Association – Used in the Humanities • APA - American Psychological Association – Used in the Social Sciences • Ask your instructor any questions you may have at beginning of process!
- 11. • THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND YOUR TOPIC! – Know what you are being asked/what you must address – What interests you the most about the topic? – Make a listing of questions you would like to have answered about the topic – What would capture the interest of the reader? • Pick issue that can be researched – Make sure topic is not too broad nor narrow in scope • Resources: – WORKSHEET – Information Literacy– Designing Research Question – www.esc.edu/writer - Go to the “Research Room” Step 2 – Develop Research Question/Thesis
- 12. Click the word WORKSHEET to open an MSWord copy of the worksheet
- 13. Step 3: Identify Keywords Keywords: Any informative words in the text of a document, chosen as indicating the main content of the document. CAUTION • Keywords and subjects are not the same. • Keywords are significant words from a document used as an index to content. • Subjects are the main focus of a work. Subject headings are assigned from standards created by catalogers. • Unless you know the word you are looking for is a subject heading, your search maybe unsuccessful. • Therefore, it is a good practice to start with a keyword search!!
- 14. Step 4: Understand Basic Search Techniques “Quotation Marks” & (Parenthesis) : allows for the search of groups of words occurring together EXAMPLES “workplace literacy” “sleep deprivation” Combine Words and Phrases
- 15. Use Truncation Truncation: to use a shortened form of a word to search for all alternate endings. sleep* will result in sleeping, sleepy, sleeps depriv* will result in deprived, deprives, deprivation
- 16. Boolean Phrases And = a grouping of two specific ideas (ex. Hurricane and Katrina) Or = one idea or anther idea (ex. United states or America) Not = Only one idea but not any other (ex. exercise not therapy)
- 17. Combine Words and Phrases Using Boolean Searching AND NOT OR Click here for a link to more information about this search technique Source of Pictures: ESC Library website
- 18. Step 3 – Begin Research Process • WHAT TO USE -- ESC Online Library • http://www.esc.edu/- Click on My ESC, then Library and Learning Resources – go to Find Info Quick Start Tutorial • All Databases & Subject Guides • Provides links to all databases based on subject area • College recommended academic focus websites • WHAT TO AVOID • General Google searches • Avoid certain “sources” i.e., Wickipedia, unsubstantiated sources such as blogs, statements from non-experts.
- 19. Using the ESC Online Library The Best Links for Conducting Your Research
- 20. WHAT DO I RESEARCH? • Locate background information using summaries and overviews in "reference" materials. • Find books on your topic. • Use online database services to search for periodical articles using online indexes and abstracts. • Research your topic on the Internet using search engines and subject directories. • Evaluate, document and organize your resources.
- 21. www.esc.edu/library Links to a comprehensive annotated listing of all the databases the library subscribes to – a one-stop-shopping site for your research. The 3 best databases are EBSCO, JSTOR & PROQUEST. EBSCOHost
- 22. Best Search Sites to Go To • Jstor – Most Academic • Ebsco – Combo Academic & Popular • Proquest – More popular & academic EBSCOHost
- 32. If you are not sure how to cite your papers this is a good reference to see how. Here is some resources to avoid plagiarism and to make sure credit is given when it is due.
- 34. Best Place to Start for an Overview of FIVE STEPS FOR FINDING INFORMATION: • Identify Your Topic • Find Keywords That Describe Your Topic and Create a Search • Get Definitions and Background Information • Find Journal and Newspaper Articles and Books • Document Your Information Sources If you needed immediate help you can always chat live with a librarian
- 35. The Library is a good place to find academically sound websites. click here
- 36. There are 6 main sections of the library website outlined in red above: 1 - Get Started: Everything you need to get started with your research, including Dictionary & Encyclopedia Search. 2 - Journals & Articles: search for articles using our collection of databases. 3 - Books: search for e-books, or print books anywhere in the world. 4 - Cite Your Sources: how to create your bibliography and footnotes (or in-text citations.) 5 -Help: Ask A Librarian via e-mail, phone, or web chat. You can also access our how-tos (tutorials) here. 6 -Search Tips & News: this area shows current tips & news articles from our Library Research Blog.
- 37. Workshops conducted through the library
- 38. What Additional Library Resources Do You Have Access To??? Academic Library Services • Public access to academic libraries will depend upon the nature of the institution (i.e., public university, private college, community college, etc.). Generally, you may be able to use materials within the library itself, but will not be able to borrow books or use interlibrary loan. Some institutions also restrict public access to certain times of the day, so it’s a good idea to call ahead. • If you use a library at a State University of New York (SUNY) or City University of New York (CUNY) institution, you will have partial access to the collection under the SUNY Open Access and CUNY library agreements. Public Library Services • The major benefit is that you will have full access to library services in your city or county of residence. • As collections tend to support the general interest needs of its community, collections will be limited in the availability of "scholarly" materials. • Depending upon the size and funding of the library, interlibrary loan services may be available.
- 39. Fall 2010 Workshop Schedule Sept. 20 Start the Term Right 27 Time Management 29 Start the Term Right Oct. 4 Navigating the ESC Websites 6 Critical Thinking 8 Introduction Library Skills ( 10am- 11am ) 13 Navigating the ESC Websites 14 Time Management 18 Critical Thinking 20 Reading More Efficiently 25 Leveraging Your learning Style 28 Unblock the Writing Experience Nov. 1 Reading more Efficiently 3 3 Introduction to Library Skills 8 Unblocking the Writing Experience 17 Stress Management 19 Time Management (10am-11am) 22 Resume and Cover Letter Writing Dec. 1 Stress Management 6 Ending the Term Right 8 Ending the Term Right 9 Writing a Rational Essay 13 Stress Management 20 Resume and Cover Letter Writing
- 40. Please give us your feedback at: http://bit.ly/libraryskillsworkshop Thank you for attending tonight's workshop If you would like to view this worship again to refresh your memory or just for fun please visit: www.necacademicsupport.pbworks.com