COM
2012
Week 4
Scope, Search Strategies, and the Library Catalog
Lecture
Summary
Make sure one
sample catalog search result is checked out (Designing the User Interface QA76.9 .I58 S47 2004).
Load slides for
the practical multidatabase system (candy) searches.
Launch LINK.
Place manila
envelopes and packets of handouts at each place, in advance.
Distribution of graded papers (Tell about instructor’s written comments
on returned assignments.)
Collection of any
outstanding assignment #3s (Most will have been submitted during the research
focus topic meetings.) REVIEW purpose of research focus topic – assignments
(building on each week’s information), portfolio, and presentation.
Lecture:
Tell about
handouts. Keep Scope and Search Strategies
handout ready to use.
Reminder about the
"Today we are
going to learn about how to select an information resource to match your
information need (scope) AND how to do research within that resource
effectively (five basic search strategies). The laboratory we will use is the
Evans Library catalog, the first of many search systems we will explore this
semester.
Learning some new
vocabulary
The first
paragraph of the Scope and Search Strategies handout tells about “scope”. Throughout this semester, we’ll be
determining the scope of each system we use.”
Have a student read the first paragraph.
“We will complete
question #1, Scope of the Evans Library Online Catalog, from your assignment
#4, during class today.”
How is the online
catalog accessed: LINK – Research
Resources or Express Links – Catalog
--- click
to go there.
On your assignment
Part A, #1, Scope of the Evans Library Online Catalog, find – and fill in - the
area that is labeled “Types of material indexed”. Consult the LINK Overview.
“What will you
find when searching in the online catalog?”
Ask one student
for one response, then ask for others.
(1) books, (2) government documents, (3) periodical titles, and (4) multimedia items.
Back to Catalog
demonstration --- “The default is the Quick Search.” Type in computer.
“The drop-down menu offers six choices of fields:
search everything, author, title, subject, series, and periodical title. What
do I mean by a field (this is a database; information usually entered in
defined fields).
Now let’s begin learning and understanding the five basic search
strategies “according to Evans Library” by using the catalog to do searches that demonstrate the five strategies.”
Select a student to keyboard – take your handouts with you.
Ms. Turner/student will record our strategies on the board.
Search
Strategy #1 - HELP
HELP – read from
"Scope and Search Strategies” handout (paragraph 2).
Show:
Library Catalog help on screen
prefatory pages of LCSH
Select student to be HELP throughout the semester.
Search
Strategy #2 – BOOLEAN LOGIC
Boolean - tell me what
you know about Boolean logic, a mathematical term you likely encountered in
algebra.
(Almost
150 years ago, George Boole, an English mathematician, developed Boolean
algebra. This brand of mathematics has been applied to set theory, probability,
and computer circuit design. Its most important application for libraries has
been in its use in search strategies. We use "logical" operators to
combine concepts in order to retrieve information focused on a topic of
interest. "Two or more concepts can be paired to satisfy research needs,
and related terms can be grouped to express a single concept.)
“Read about Boolean from "Scope and Search Strategies" handout
(third paragraph).
Look at the handout on Boolean. What are the Boolean operators used in
most library searching? Boolean just
combines terms, so when you use Boolean in most databases, it will not show:
Proximity
- such as same, with, near, adj
Relations – such a >, <, or + values
Like most Internet searching – relevancy ranking – other algorithms do that
Let’s use the
online catalog to try some examples: computer
or computers or computing
(23610)
Select student to be BOOLEAN throughout the semester.
One thing to note
here is the statement that items are not
sorted when more than 500 items
are retrieved.
Now click on “go
back”.
Too many items;
let’s add another term to the search:
computer or computers or computing and
human or humans (22625)
Did that help? Explain results are
from machine doing search left to right.
Let’s see if our
next search strategy clarifies what we want.
Have someone read
"nesting" section from "Scope…” handout
Nesting is a way to
narrow down your search to just those items more focused on your interests and
to clarify the order in which the search is executed.
(computer or computers or computing) and (human
or humans) (609)
How would these
results be different?
Nesting clarified
the order!
Select student to be NESTING throughout the semester.
**Change
keyboarders?**
Have someone read truncation section on "Scope…”
handout.
This is sometimes
also called wildcarding or substitution (or, when it is assumed or automatic, autostemming). Some examples are:
* (lots of periodical databases)
? (a classic – from Dialog searching days)
! (less common, usually special, such as a single
character)
# (fairly uncommon, used in STN International databases
Symbol for online catalog? ($ for our Library catalog)
Let’s do an example and then talk more about truncation:
Comput$ and human$ (604)
What does
truncation do? What Boolean operator did truncation replace in our search? (It tells the computer to look for any
character(s) in a certain spot. It functionally "OR"s terms
together.)
Cautions:
Sometimes
it brings too much (false drops or too many results).
Example: OOPS – artificial in? - CAUTION
Truncation saves
keyboarding, therefore time, errors (!), thinking, and sometimes money.
Before we go further, I want to show you another way to limit while
searching: by location; limit to location: reference. (2)
Optional (Can target various fields; one you may not know about is series (see
terminology handout). If we target the
series field we retrieve items with some form of the root word comput and human, singular or plural. Can ask about it next week
in homework discussion).
Let’s add another term because what I am really after is interaction
between humans and the computer: comput$ and human$ and (interaction$ or behavio?r) (280)
Pick records to show variety and location (refer to call # handout): govdocs (#3), books (#6), reserves (none), periodical
holdings (#1), placing a hold (#6)
Select student to be TRUNCATION throughout the semester.
Controlled
vocabulary
Have someone read
"Controlled vocabularies."
In our catalog,
controlled vocabulary is called “subject”.
As you learned during last week’s conferences with Ms. Turner and me,
the Library of Congress Subject Headings lists the controlled vocabulary or subject
headings for our catalog and that of most colleges and universities in the US.
Look at record #6
in catalog and point out subject: human-computer interaction
Go over LCSH handouts, which should include the sample pages that show candies
and candy
Optional: (Let’s try a search on a different
subject. I am really interested in
today’s emphasis on advertising and selling on the World Wide Web; let’s see if
we have any books on that topic. Type in World Wide Web
Marketing and target subject.
Someone look up
World Wide Web Marketing in LCSH. What
is the valid LCSH subject heading? Type
in “Internet Marketing” and choose
subject.)
Select student to
be CONTROLLED VOCABULARY throughout the semester.
***keyboarder can
go back to seat***
Open candy PowerPoint slides.
Let’s practice search strategies.
Show slide for APPLICATION: From the database provided (candies),
execute the following searches:
cand*
cand* and red
cand* and (red or yellow)
cand* and (red or yellow) and circ*
(cand* and (red or yellow) and circ*) not white
We have now
covered and practiced the five basic search strategies. What are they? Let’s go over them and our human
representative of each one.
We’ll use them
many times this semester
Now we need to finish up a few more details about the Evans Library
online catalog. (Fill in form.)
(Optional
but try to includel: I want to show you one
more thing you may not think to do left to your own devices. Click New Search
Author
search: Catanese
Now go back and do
the same search targeting “search everything”:
Catanese (#10) and show ALL from view (note: acquisitions source).)
Finish scope of Evans Library online catalog: subject, time frame,
information provided
Show Databases/Indexes on Express Links to get to FirstSearch:
WorldCat to complete Part A on your own
Introduction to
ILL: Using a resource like WorldCat (or Amazon) often you may learn of a book that you
search for in our online catalog and do not find. What can you do in that case?
Interlibrary Loan
Librarian, Ms. Victoria Smith
Explanation of
assignment #4, portfolio, envelope, cover sheets
TAKE: Canister, sign-in sheet & pen, folder
& stapler
Lecture
LCSH volumes – full set
manila envelopes (stuffed with guidelines and five copies of cover sheet)
packet
background information on guest lecturers
water
PowerPoint for search practice
PACKET
of handouts:
"Scope
and Search Strategies" handout ("Scope and Search
Strategies")
“Library Information Terminology” handout (See also ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information
Science in the LINK – Research Resources – Reference Sources –
Dictionaries/Thesauri – Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science (http://lu.com/odlis/)
LCSH
and LC Call Number handout pdf
“Catalog
Search Tips” handout
LINK
overview (tri-fold) brochure
“Boolean
operators” handout
Assignment
#4
ILL
brochure
updated 9.16.2009 nec