Find Info: Topics
Monday October 13th, 2008From Library Instruction Wiki
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Find Info: Topics is the code name for a class that is being designed to replace the Search Strategies and the Interent II classes. The idea is that, twice per month, we will offer focused classes to help people use library resources (catalog, ILL, databases, internet) to "Find Info" on a given topic.
General Class Curriculum will be something like this:
Overview of searching strategies - very general. Different kinds of places to search out there - library catalog, databases, Internet, experts, etc. Let people know that there are some basic search strategies that they will learn that can be applied to any kind of search, not just the topic of the day.
Overview of the topic to be explored - sensitivity of the information, need for accuracy. Common issues associated with that type of searching. Common roadblocks. Too much information or too little in the area?
Specifics
Library resources - catalog, print reference sources (1 or 2 examples - don't overwhelm them with stuff, more introduce them to the idea that it's possible to find things in print that they won't find anywhere online.
Databases - two or three main databases that the library has access to.
Internet - perils of search engines, locating a good source, two or three good sites for the topic.
Conduct sample searches in catalog, databases, search engines, specific sites. Compare and contrast results.
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Health
Overview of searching strategies
There are four main places to go for Health information:
- Library Catalog - For medical encyclopedias, for books about many diseases and conditions, for personal care books about how to cope with various conditions. Diabetes cookbooks, for example.
- Databases - Health and Wellness Resource Center, ProQuest
- The Internet - National Library of Medicine, The Mayo Clinic
- Experts - your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider. There is also a library at the Southwest Washington Medical Center which has information and a collection available to the public.
We'll cover the first three sources in this class, but not the fourth. The first three are all electronic resources. The library catalog is an electronic resource, even though it's all about what we have in print, because you get to the catalog using a computer. Catalogs, databases and the internet are actually fairly similar to each other in how they work. So, searching for things within these different places is also similar.
Overview of Health as a Topic
When people are searching for information about a health topic, they are often concerned about their own health or the health of someone close to them.
At our library, also, many people are researching a health topic for a report for school.
It can be important to discover the reasons that people are interesting in health related information, but since it can be a touchy subject you have to be careful not to pry. If they haven't offered the reason they need the information, and the patron looks like a student, I will sometimes ask "Is this for a report?" Otherwise, I assume that it's something they need for themselves.
In either case, having quality, trustworthy information is very important, as is having confidence in that information.
So, any time you show a patron an information source for health, it can be a good idea to make sure that the information you are finding is up-to-date, so that you can assure the patron that the information in that source is up-to-date.
Specifics about Places To Search
In a library catalog, you can search for books, dvds, and magazines that the library owns. These materials all take time to be produced, so the information in them is never going to be breaking news. However, books are often a great place to start research into a health topic - in an encyclopedia, you get the overview of your topic, some history and some insight. In other books, you can get more in-depth perspectives on the issue. What you won't get is information about what happened yesterday, or last week, or even last year, except in rare cases when you get a newly published book that was updated just before it was printed.
Databases collect articles from many different magazines, journals and books, and puts them into an electronic format so that you can search them. Databases are going to have more up-to-date information, as well as more specific information. You'll be able to find articles that were recently published, research that has been conducted, and opinions about what it means. Once you've gotten a good basis of information from an encyclopedia or another source, articles can help flesh out your knowledge and help you make sure that you're getting the most current information.
The Internet can be a nerve-wracking place to go for health information because it can be tough to determine if the information you are getting is any good or not. When it comes to health, people want to feel confident that the information they found is good and helpful. Doing random searches on the Internet may find you good information, but it won't necessarily make you feel good about it. However! There are some great sites out there, as you will soon see.
Conducting Sample Searches
Do a keyword search in library catalog - select from results, but remind everyone that good health information is contained in medical encyclopedias, so doing a more generic search in a library catalog might get them better results in the long run.
Examples of Health related Print Resources:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine R 615.503 GALE EN V.1-4
- DK Home Medical Guide R 616.024 America 2003
- The MERCK Manual of Medical Information R 616.024 MERCK M
- Diabetes Cookbook - several choices at/around 641.5631
Databases:
Conduct similar searches in both databases, compare results. Look at the way the databases respond to search queries with suggestions (or lack thereof).
- Health And Wellness Resource Center
- ProQuest
Internet Sites:
- Google (http://www.google.com)
- Medline Plus (http://medlineplus.gov/)
- The Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/)
- National Center For Complimentary And Alternative Medicine (http://nccam.nih.gov/)
Sample searches that yield interesting results:
- How can I use yoga to combat arthritis?
- What should I eat if I have heart disease?
- Are there any natural cures for vertigo?
More Questions that students can do on their own - remember, even if you know the answer, you aren't the authority that makes information reputable. You need to find an authoritative and well-regarded source.
- What is gout?
- What do you use Valerian root for?
- How do you do face aerobics?
Travel
Internet:
http://del.icio.us/isdesk/findinfo-travel
Databases:
Culture Grams
Library Catalog:
Search the catalog for keyword by subject for any country or major city – otherwise how would you know to go to 381.1809 for “Markets Of Paris,” by Dixon Long – a guide to all kinds of open-air markets in and around Paris.
For general travel related materials in the library, look in the 914-919 section. This is where you’ll find Fodors and Rick Steves, and travel guides like that. You’ll also find some travel writing, if it’s specific to a certain region.
- 910.4 - Travel writing
- 914 – Europe
- 915 – Asia
- 916 – Africa
- 917 – North America
- 918 – South America
- 919 – Everywhere Else (including Antarctica and Space)
Local Dewey numbers related to Travel:
- 917.9 - Pacific Northwest
- 917.97 - Washington
- 796.5109 - Washington, Oregon: Hiking
- 647.9471 to 647.9479 - Washington, Oregon: Campsites, RV hookups, Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts
Also remember that the library will have DVDs and videos in these numbers as well.
Business
Print Resources:
Databases:
Internet Sites:
Sample searches that yield interesting results:
How to find a type of business...
How to get up-to-date stock quotes...
Where to go to find out how to start a small business...
Legal Help
Print Resources:
Databases:
Internet Sites:
Sample searches that yield interesting results:
Washington Law Help is great, but we have lots of other resources, right?
Where to find legal forms
How to search the RCW online
How to contact the Clark County Law Library
etc.
Reader's Advisory
Readers Advisory is one of those core competencies of Library Work, up there with dynamic searching and classification and stuff. It can be very fun, if you know a lot about different genres, and it can be nerve-wracking if you're
Print Resources:
Genreflecting (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/43095943), What Do I Read Next? (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22218965)
Booklists, booklists, booklists!
Databases:
Novelist - demo, show good features, talk it up.
Internet Sites:
Fantastic Fiction (http://fantasticfiction.co.uk/)
LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com/)
goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/)
whichbook (http://www.whichbook.net/default.aspx?searchtype=2&reset=1)
Book Reporter (http://www.bookreporter.com/features/beachbag2007/index.asp)
Gnooks (http://www.gnooks.com/)
Seattle Public Library (http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=collection_readinglists)
Northwest Books (http://www.northwest-books.com/index.html)
Multnomah County Library (http://www.multcolib.org/books/lists/)
Booklists Online (http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=home)
Publishers Weekly (http://www.publishersweekly.com/)
All these links are in the isdesk del.icio.us account: http://del.icio.us/isdesk/findinfo-RA
Sample searches that yield interesting results:
(take suggestions from patrons?)
Genealogy
Our two big databases, ILL, census records, Rootsweb? How to print the census...
Automotive
Chiltons and Alldata, Mitchell Manuals, National Service Data
What's online, what's in print?
Other types of machines covered/not covered - tractors, motorcycles, golf carts, snowmobiles, small engine, etc.
RVs and why repair info is hard to find
etc.
eBay, craigslist and online shopping
http://www.ebay.com http://www.amazon.com http://www.craigslist.org
Talk about the differences between these three sites.
ebay - auction site and store. Has a variety of ways to buy things. You can also sell things that you want to get rid of. good for finding smaller things, collectibles, things that are easy to ship. You pay for shipping in most cases, and that adds to the price.
craigslist - more local type listings. All the same types of listings that you would find in a newspaper classifieds, so in addition to things for sale, you'll also find ads for garage sales and things for free. There are also listings for personal ads, which can have pictures in them. There are no restrictions on what the pictures can contain, if you know what i mean. Also, events and classes are often listed here.
amazon - more a standard shopping type site. Used to be just for books, but expanded to include all kinds of media and products. People can write reviews of products at amazon, so it can be interesting to see what consumers have said and how they have rated books, movies, music, or products that you are interested in.
Demonstrate searching for items of interest in each different tool, examine the results, and look at what kinds of options there are for obtaining that item.
For a good portion of the class, focus on ebay and how ebay works. Look at the several different ways of buying something on ebay - Buy It Now, Bid, Make Offer, etc.
Consumer Information
