Welcome
Voiceover:
Welcome to Texas Woman’s University Finding Books and Journal articles training.
Getting Started
Voiceover:
Imagine you are writing a paper on influential women, like Hillary
Clinton, for one of your classes. You go to the library home page,
click on the Libraries Catalog, and search for influential women.
Automatically, ten thousand book results are returned. At this rate,
you are never going to finish your paper. What should you do now?
Whether you are looking for resources for a research paper, or looking
for a book to read, searching can seem like a daunting task. But, no
matter which database or catalog you are using, they all work on the
same principle: enter a particular set of words to describe your topic,
use limiters and expanders to refine your search and return a relevant
set of results, and use information from the record to locate and
access the materials.
By the end of this training, you will be able to:
Perform a search using the TWU Libraries catalog and databases
Identify keywords, significant terms, and concepts that describe your search
Use limiters to narrow or refine your search
Interpret the search results
Select relevant item records based on your topic
Locate items based on the results
Let’s get started. Click Next to continue.
Start Your Search
Voiceover:
To begin your search, you must first understand which tools to use to
find the materials you need—books, journal articles, or other types of
materials. Click each icon.
(Book icon) You can search the TWU Libraries catalog for books,
journals, audio recordings, videos, and microforms the library owns
or provides access to.
(Journal icon) Databases are used to index journals. You can search
databases for items such as journal articles, newspaper articles, book
reviews, reports, or case studies and proceedings.
Click Next to continue.
How to Search for Books
Voiceover:
In this section, you will learn how to search for books and other
library materials. Use the TWU Libraries catalog to search for books,
journals, media, and other items the TWU Libraries own or provides
access to.
Keep in mind that while you can search for journals in the Libraries
catalog, the result will show only the journal name, not the actual
articles within the journal. To search for articles, you will need to
search the databases.
Click Next to continue.
Explore the Search Screen
Voiceover:
Accessing the search screen is your first step in searching for
books and other library materials. You can find the location, call
number, and availability of a vast number of books and other library
materials by searching the library catalog. Let’s begin by exploring
the parts of the search screen. Click on each of the tabs to learn more
about the search options available.
Text on screen:
Basic search--enter the search terms and select the category (keyword,
title, author, subject, call number, etc.). Using limiters such as
E-books or Main Collection will help you refine your search.
Advanced search--offers more options to refine your search. Like the basic search, the advanced search allows you to search by category and use a variety of limiters. Using advanced search limiters such as “any of these” or “as a phrase” will give you more control of the search process.
Subject search—allows you to search by subject headings. For instance, a subject search for Hillary Clinton will return results that are specifically about her, not just a publication where she was mentioned.
Author search—allows you to search for materials by author. You may search by last name only, last name and first initial, or first and last name.
Course Reserve-- use to search for items reserved by instructors for a specific class. You may search by instructor, department, course, and section.
New Books-- allows you to search for new books. You can search by title, author, or keyword, and limit by date.
Now that you've finished exploring the parts of the search screen, click Next to continue.
Perform a Search
Voiceover:
Below are some tips for effective searching:
Develop a search strategy.
Think about the keywords, significant terms, and concepts that describe your topic.
Use different combinations of terms.
Consider your topic. If searching for “Mary Kay” is too broad, you
might add additional keywords like “business,” or “Texas,” to make your
results more manageable. However, using too narrow a search may not
return enough results. Look over the results to determine if your search
retrieved the type of results you expected. If not, you can modify
keywords and fields to perform another search. When you find materials
relevant to your search, locate them by noting the location, call
number, and status information in the record.
Click Next to continue.
Try It: Perform a Search with Limiters
Voiceover:
Using limiters such as AND, OR, and NOT will focus your search and
yield more relevant results. AND narrows a search. OR broadens a
search. NOT excludes records with a specified term. Put search items in
quotation marks to search for an exact phrase. Refine your search by
selecting which field, keyword, title, author, or which collection or location such as Main Library, All Material, or the Woman’s
Collection to search. Now it’s your turn to search. Click Try It to
view the guided simulation of a search using limiters. Follow the
instructions in the text boxes.
Simulation Screen 1:
For this example, you are interested in articles about women
entrepreneurs such as Mary Kay Ash. To perform a comprehensive search for materials on specific topics, use the Advanced Search. Search both phrases to broaden your search. The records you find may include items specifically about Mary Kay Ash or about women entrepreneurs in general. To begin, enter Mary Kay Ash in the first search field. Type Mary Kay Ash. Then, press the Tab key. Choose how you would like to search the terms. For example, search as a phrase. Click the Search drop-down arrow and select "as a phrase". Select the connector for the search. For results that include either phrase, select OR as your connector. For results that include both phrases, select AND. To exclude a phrase from your search, select NOT. For this example, use OR to search for either phrase.
Tip: You can limit the search by location or collection, for example Woman's Collection or E-Books.
Click the connector drop-down arrow. Click "OR". Type women entrepreneurs and press the Tab key. Click the Search drop-down arrow. Click as a phrase. Click search.
Simulation Screen 2:
The results show print materials and materials available online. Scroll down to view more results.
Let’s first look at one of the print results.
Click Women entrepreneurs only…
Simulation Screen 3:
Note the full Title, Author, Publisher, Description and Subjects
associated with the book. Scroll down to view more information.
Note the Holdings Information. You will need this information to locate the book.
Scroll up and click Titles to return to results list.
Simulation Screen 4:
Next, let’s look at an electronic result.
Electronic books can be accessed from your computer 24/7 on and off-campus.
Click Free money and help for women entrepreneurs …
Simulation Screen 5:
The listing for the electronic book shows not only the Title, Author,
Publisher, Description, Subject and Holdings Information, as well as a
link to the book.
Congratulations! You have completed the simulation.
Click Next to continue.
Use Your Search Results
Voiceover:
Now that you have your results, you must use them to locate the book in
the library. To locate a book, you need to know the location, call
number, and availability status. Click each highlighted area to learn
more about the result and the location.
Text on screen:
Subjects: You can use these subject headings to locate similar materials.
Location: The Location provides necessary information to find or access
the material. In this example, the item is part of the Woman’s
Collection.
Call Number: TWU Libraries use Library of Congress call numbers. For assistance with locating materials contact the Information or Circulation desks.
Status: Status information will tell you if the item is available, or if it is checked out and when it is due for return.
Click Next to continue.
Obtain Materials From Other Libraries
Voiceover:
At some point in your search you may need materials that are not part
of the TWU collection. You can consult the Libraries catalog page for
links to other libraries.
Two of the most comprehensive indexes of library collections are
WorldCat and LibDex. These indexes allow you to search thousands of
libraries around the world. Use your Texshare card to checkout
materials from another library, or request materials through an
Interlibrary Loan.
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 1)
Which of the following search tools has records showing the locations
of all the books, journals, newspapers, and audiovisual materials
available through the TWU Libraries?
a. EBSCOHost
b. TWU Libraries catalog
c. Ready reference
The correct answer is B. TWU Libraries catalog
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 2)
Take a look at this record for the book Grace & Glory: A Century of Women in the Olympics. The subject headings listed are Olympics--History, Winter Olympics--History, and Women athletes. Which of the following is NOT a subject?
a. Women athletes
b. Olympics—History
c. Winter Olympics—History
d. Women in the Olympics
The correct answer is D. Women in the Olympics.
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 3)
To find information about your topic you must first determine which words best describe what you're looking for. What are the keywords or phrases in the following question?
Which Texas women have competed in the Olympics?
a. Texas, Olympics, and gold medals
b. “Texas Olympics” and women
c. Texas, women, and Olympics
The correct answer is C. Texas, women, and Olympics
Click Next to continue.
Introduction to Article Search
Voiceover:
In this module, you will learn how to search for journal articles.
Journal articles provide a great source of information on a variety of
topics. Remember, use the catalog to search for books. To search
for journal articles you need to use databases.
Databases are used to index journals. You can search databases for
journal articles, newspaper articles, book reviews, reports, case
studies, proceedings, and more. Some databases, such as Academic Search
Complete, include articles on a variety of topics from both scholarly
and popular journals. Subject-specific databases, such as PsycINFO,
index scholarly journals specifically related to topics about
psychology. You can also use subject guides to identify key databases
for a particular subject.
Click Next to continue
Select a Database For Your Topic
Voiceover:
TWU Libraries has access to a large number of databases, and it may be
difficult to determine which database indexes the journals relevant to
your topic. The libraries spend over a million dollars annually so
students have access to quality online databases. Click each icon to
learn more.
A to Z icon: If you know which database you need, use the A-Z database
list to locate the database. You will need your portal user name and
password to access most of the databases on this list.
Subject Guides icon: If you are unsure of which database to use,
consult the subject guides to locate key databases for a particular
subject. For example, the Business subject guide provides a list of
business-related databases and subject specialist contact information.
Links to other sources of information about your topic, including web
pages, online books, and departmental information are also available on
subject guide pages.
Click Next to continue
Search Terms
Voiceover:
After you select which database to use, decide which words will help
you locate the articles you need. The terms you use are the key to
finding the right articles for your topic.
Think about the keywords, significant terms, and major concepts that
describe your topic.
Try several different terms in varying combinations to find articles
that best fit your topic.
Consider your paper topic. Searching “pilot”, for example, will be too
broad. Using more specific terms such as “women aviators” will make
your results more manageable. Refine your search with limiters. Using
limiters like AND, OR, and NOT will focus your search results. OR
always broadens a search. AND always narrows a search. NOT always
excludes records with a specified term. Look over results to determine
if your search retrieved the type of results you expected. If not, you
can modify keywords and fields to perform another search.
Click Next to continue.
Try It: Perform an Article Search
Voiceover:
Now it’s your turn to search for journal articles.
Click Try It to view a guided simulation of an article search.
Simulation Screen 1:
If you know which database you would like to use, you can go directly
to the Databases A-Z list, select the database, and perform your
search. If you’re unsure, use the Subject Guides, view the available
subjects, and use databases associated with that subject. For this
example, we will start by viewing the Subject LibGuides.
Click Subject LibGuides.
Simulation Screen 2:
Your paper will focus on the author J.K. Rowling, therefore Literature and Language would be a good subject guide to help you identify the databases you need to search. Click Literature and Language.
Captivate Screen 3:
Let’s begin by selecting the MLA International Bibliography key database.
Click MLA International Bibliography.
Simulation Screen 4:
For this exercise, you will search for J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter.
You want scholarly articles, in English, from 1999 to present. Begin by
entering the first search term.
Click in the first search field. Type J. K. Rowling and press the Tab key.
TIP: Important limiters to consider include publication dates,
language, full-text, scholarly or peer-reviewed, and publication type.
Other databases may include different limiters.
Click in the second search field. Type Harry Potter. Scroll down.
Simulation Screen 5:
Click the Month drop down box.
Click January.
Click in the Year field. Type 1999. Then, press the Tab key.
Click the Month drop down box.
Click November.
Click in the Year field. Type 2009. Then, press the Tab key.
Select English in the Language box.
Select the Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals option.
Click Search.
Simulation Screen 6:
The results show a list of the articles that met your search criteria.
Note the article name, author, publication name, publication date,
volume number, issue number, and page numbers. Results might include one or more of the
following links: PDF Full Text, HTML Full Text, Available TWU Catalog,
and Find Full-Text.
TIP: Remember to document your sources as you go through the research
process. Be sure to save a copy of the source or make a note of the
author name, title of the article, book, or journal, page number,
publication date, URL, and other pertinent information.
Simulation Screen 7:
For your paper, you think that Latin Revived: Source Based Vocabulary
Lessons Courtesy of Harry Potter would be a good article to start with.
Click the article to view the citation.
Click Latin Revived: Source Based Vocabulary Lessons Courtesy of Harry Potter.
Simulation Screen 8:
This citation record includes title of article, source information (the
name of the journal), subject terms, and a direct link to the article.
A PDF version of the article is available. PDF and HTML links give you
immediate full-text. The PDF is an exact copy of the article, complete
with pictures, graphs, and any other associated artwork and
information.
Scroll down.
Simulation Screen 8:
Some citations will have Available TWU catalog links that will link you
back to the print or electronic holdings available through the online
catalog. Click the left arrow to view the previous record.
Simulation Screen 9:
Scroll down.
Simulation Screen 10:
Other records may have a Find Full-Text link. This link indicates that
the article is not available in the database you are searching. Click
the Find Full-Text link to search for full-text from other electronic
holdings.
If the article is not available, you can request it through interlibrary loan.
Congratulations! You have completed the simulation. Click End to exit the simulation.
Search Results
Voiceover:
Let’s take a closer look at the citation record for an article from
your search. This information is important because you will need to
keep track of your citations in order to create your bibliography.
Citations can be exported from databases into a tool called RefWorks, a
citation management tool which helps you cite sources and avoid
plagiarism. Click each highlighted area to learn more.
Text on screen:
Title: Shows title of the article.
Author: Shows names of the article(s) authors.
Source: Shows the publication name, publication date, volume, issue, and page numbers.
Subject Terms: Each article is indexed using search terms that describe the article.
Search Terms are sometimes referred to as subjects, headings, descriptors, or identifiers depending on the database.
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 1)
A class you are taking requires that you read three journal articles
related to a topic of your choosing. Which of the following would be
the correct resource to find and select journal articles?
a. TWU Libraries catalog
b. Database
c. An encyclopedia
d. Wikipedia
The correct answer is B. Database
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 2)
What limiter is NOT available in the databases you searched?
a. Full-text
b. Published date
c. Scholarly (peer-reviewed) journals
d. Domain
The correct answer is D. Domain. This is a limiter you might use when searching the internet not the databases.
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 3)
Which search strategy will give you more results?
A. Pilots AND Amelia Earhart
B. Pilots OR Amelia Earhart
C. Pilots NOT Amelia Earhart
D. The strategies will all give you the same number of results
The correct answer is B. Pilots OR Amelia Earhart
Click Next to continue.
Test Your Knowledge (Question 4)
Which of the following is a resource that will help you identify key databases for your topic?
A. Subject Guides
B. TWU Libraries catalog
C. Academic Search Complete
D. RefWorks
The correct answer is A. Subject Guides
Click Next to continue.
Summary/Congratulations
Congratulations! You have completed the Finding and Accessing Information Sources web-based training.
In this training, you learned how to search for books, journal articles, and other library materials.
You learned how to:
Perform a search using the TWU Libraries catalog and databases
Identify keywords, significant terms, and concepts that describe your topic
Use limiters to narrow or refine your results
Interpret search results
Select relevant item records based on your topic
Locate items based on the results
Click the “Take the Quiz” link to test your knowledge of finding and accessing information sources. Good luck!
Link to the quiz: http://www.twu.edu/library/tutorial/postTest3.aspx