Testing out of Library 50

Academic Search Complete

aka EBSCO, designed for academic institutions. It is a database that is a leading resource for scholarly research

Subject headings

describe all the content within the database. Subject headings are relevant to topics, and have a "controlled Vocabulary".

Give 2 descriptors of what a research paper is not.

1. A regurgitation of facts 2. One quote after another

Give 2 descriptors of what a research paper is.

1. A specific subject topic 2. Having outside sources to attest your own thoughts/feelings on that particular topic

From the Library Catalog search box, please list 4 of the 7 ways to search the catalog (click on the drop down menu for the answers...the black arrow in the image above is pointing to where the drop down menu is located):

1. Author's last name 2. Call Number 3. Journal Title 4. Subject Heading

What Are the Four Evaluation Criteria Used to evaluate information sources?

1. Currency 2. Reliability 3. Authority 4. Purpose

What are the Seven Steps of the Research Process?

1. Identifying and developing your topic 2. Finding background information 3. Using the library catalog to find books and media 4. Using the library database to find journal, magazine, and newspaper articles 5. Finding Internet resources 6. Evaluating what you find 7. Cite what you find using a standard format

What are the 3 major steps of writing a research paper?

1. Planning 2. Writing 3. Revision

What is the difference between a Web Browser and a Search Engine?

A Web Browser is a program that accesses websites and webpages. A Search Engine is a program that looks for specific material when keywords are entered. A Web Browser does not a Search Engine, but a Search Engine needs a Web Browser.

What is a blog?

A blog is a website that is regularly updated and includes thoughts and discussions. The website has a variety of endings.

What is a periodical?

A periodical is a publication that is published multiple times a year.

Primary Source

A primary source is a foundation that research is established upon. Ex: sets of data, speeches, government documents, and photographs/works of art.

Secondary source

A secondary source describes, analyzes, and evaluates original sources, which are also known as primary sources. Ex: bibliographies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, history, and works of criticism and interpretation.

What do Boolean operators do?

Boolean operators combine your search terms in order to either narrow or broaden the results.

Why use Boolean operators?

Boolean operators will focus your search and help to find exact pieces of information that your are looking for.

What kind of information would you expect to find in a primary source? When would you use a primary source in your own research or writing?

I would expect to find original thoughts, materials, and first hand evidence. I would use a primary source in my research and writing in order to have a better understanding/foundation for my topic.

Why do you think secondary source are useful? How would you use a secondary source to support your own research or writing?

I would use a secondary source to support my own research and writing in order to view other perspectives and gain a better understanding of the theory or topic at hand.

If students want to use the computers in the library, what information is needed to login to the computers?

If students want to use the computers in the library, their Lobo Apps login and password will allow them to login.

Information Literacy

Information Literacy is sharing the information you have discovered after identifying, understanding, and evaluating sources critically. It is important because there is so much information and not all of it is true.

Is there a single Search Engine (like Google or Bing) that indexes the entire World Wide Web?

No, there is not a single Search Engine that indexes the entire World Wide Web.

Why would you use quotation marks with your search terms when doing a search in a database?

Quotation marks will keep your search terms together and bring up results that are relevant to that phrase.

How does research differ from just finding the answer to a question?

Research will allow you to understand the knowledge at hand and apply the information you learned to other assignments/situations verses just finding the answer to a question and forgetting the information entirely.

What are Reserve Materials?

Reserve Materials are textbooks, articles, videos, etc. that your teacher wants you to view that are not supplied in the classroom.

What is the Web address of the MPC Library?

The Web address of the MPC Library is https://www.mpc.edu/academics/library-learning-centers/library

What is 'Bibliographic Information'?

The Bibliographic information is an abstract of the resources the library purchases. Inside the description (also known as bibliographic record) contains who is responsible for the publication.

Why would you use the Boolean operator NOT?

The Boolean operator NOT will omit certain words and will ignore concepts that may be associated with what I am searching.

Why would you use the Boolean operator OR?

The Boolean operator OR will connect synonyms and broaden my results.

What is the name of the classification system used by the MPC Library to organize its books and resources? (This is in the lesson-we also have a handout at the reference desk discussing our classification system)

The MPC Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System.

What is the definition of the Internet?

The definition of the Internet is a system of computers that are interconnected globally to provide information resources such as private, public, academic, business, and government networks.

What is the definition of the World Wide Web?

The definition of the World Wide Web is a system of interconnected text and multimedia material that can be accessed through the Internet using "www" or "http".

What do you think the difference is between the value of information coming from a magazine vs. information coming from a book?

The difference between the value of information coming from a magazine vs. information coming from a book is that books give in depth information about a broad topic and contain historical context that include original research. However, they are only published once with revised editions. Magazines also include in depth information, but usually on a specific topic. They usually do not go into a historical overview so the coverage about a topic is limited. Magazine articles are shorter, but since they are published on a regular basis, they have information that is current and up to date.

What is the general email address for the MPC Library?

The general email address for the MPC Library is [email protected].

What are the hours that the library is open on Friday?

The library is open on Friday from 7:45am - 4:00pm

What is the loan period for a regular circulating book?

The loan period for a regular circulating book is 3 weeks.

What is the main telephone number of the library?

The main telephone number of the library is 646-4095

What is the purpose of a commercial website?

The purpose of a commercial website is to advertise a service or product that is for sale. The website usually ends in ".com".

What is the purpose of a news website?

The purpose of a news website is to report news and current events. The website usually ends in ".com".

What is the purpose of an organizational website?

The purpose of an organizational website is to bring people together that have similar interests in order to access and share information/opinions.

Why would you use of the Library Catalog (what is its purpose)?

The purpose of the Library Catalog is to help you discover whether the library owns the resource you are looking for, and to not waste your time searching.

List 3 of the characteristics that define a periodical as a magazine:

Three characteristics that define a periodical as a magazine are printed on glossy paper, written for the general public, and contain a lot of advertisements.

List 3 of the characteristics that define a periodical as a newspaper:

Three characteristics that define a periodical as a newspaper include being distributed at regular intervals, containing a variety of written pieces such as news, opinion and advertising, and covering different topics

List 3 of the characteristics that define a periodical as a journal:

Three of the characteristics that define a periodical as a journal are written for professionals, contain fewer advertisements, and have chart graphs/statistics.

What are two advantages/pros of using a library?

Two advantages are having free access to different types of publications (newspapers, books, articles, etc), and scholarly librarians to help you find the resources you need.

In your opinion, what are 2 advantages of using E-Books?

Two advantages of using an E-Book are it is environmentally friendly since it's paperless, and it is available to access 24/7.

What are two advantages/pros of using the Internet?

Two advantages of using the Internet are it is always available, and being more in tune with present events due to frequent updates

In your opinion, what are 2 disadvantages of using E-Books?

Two disadvantages of using an E-Book is that it can run out of battery since it is online, and having to stare at an LCD screen that can begin to hurt your eyes after a while.

What are two disadvantages/cons of using the Internet?

Two disadvantages of using the Internet are there are not always reliable sources, and not having an organized system to help you find the resource that you are looking for more easily.

What are two disadvantages/cons of using the library?

Two disadvantages of using the library are not being able to use after hours, and possibly not being able to check out specific resources since it is first come first serve.

Name two services available at the Circulation Desk

Two services available at the Circulation Desk are reserving/checking out study rooms, and picking up Interlibrary Loan materials.

Name two services available at the Reference Desk.

Two services available at the Reference Desk are technical help, and answering research questions.

Why would you use the Boolean operator AND?

Using the Boolean operator "AND" narrows the search and informs the database that all search terms must be included in the results.

What do you need to have in your possession to check out books?

You need to have your library card in possession to check out books.

Boolean operators

are simple words (AND, OR, NOT or AND NOT) used as conjunctions to combine or exclude keywords in a search, resulting in more focused and productive results. -AND=narrow your search: all of your search terms will present in the retrieved records -OR= to broaden your search by connecting two or more synonyms. -NOT= to exclude term(s) from your search results.

Keywords

are the words that you put in when you do a specific search. Keywords have more flexibility to pair words, and are a good starting area to gather information on your topic.

CQ Researcher

provides award winning in-depth coverage of the most important issues of the day. Our reports are written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Full-length articles include an overview, historical background, chronology, pro/con feature, plus resources for additional research.