By Jennifer Snoek-Brown
When your students enter the Karrmann Library's book catalog, does it seem like their palms start to sweat when they see choices like Keyword, Boolean or Advanced Search? Please reassure them to have no fear - that's why librarians are here!
We know the hardest part of any research is coming up with the keywords or terms to describe a topic accurately. The words most might choose ("Civil War" for example), a cataloger may classify differently ("United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865"). To prevent catalog-induced frustration, here are a few key tips on how researchers can make the catalog work for them.
Keyword v. Boolean: Keyword searches are best used with one word or phrase, like "death penalty". Think of Boolean as Advanced Keyword. To add a term to your original word or phrase, the Boolean Search is the way to go, like searching for "death penalty" AND ethics. Or better yet, click the Advanced Search option as you enter the catalog.
Importance of Being "Quotatious" : In the example above, "death penalty" was put in quotation marks. That was no typo. Using those quotes, about 50 records come up - without the quotes, you get blasted with over 1,500 hits! When it comes to phrases, it's good to stick with the quotation marks.
Solving the Maze of Subdivisions: Let's say the research is for primary sources on World War II. Save a lot of time by including a subdivision in a Boolean search - for example, "World War II" AND "personal narratives". There are dozens more examples like these, and the best way to find them? You guessed it -ask a librarian!
Ask a librarian by calling 342-1668, e-mailing (click "Ask a Librarian" from the library's homepage), or dropping by the Reference Desk on the main floor.
Librarians welcome the opportunity to lead a session for your students in developing research skills, evaluating sources, avoiding plagiarism, and citing resources.
To schedule, please contact your division librarian.
(Note: Instructors of English may call John Berg, 342-1355, or Jennifer Snoek-Brown, 342-1192, to schedule their classes.)
Thanks to friendships and connections of Public Services Coordinator John Berg, the Elton S. Karrmann Library was given an extensive collection of books on ceramics. A gift to the library from Sinsinawa Mound's Sister Ruella Bouchonville OP, the books will be available for browsing and check out in the General Collection on the third floor of the library.
"The essential purpose of any library is to serve its community - city, county, state, nation, school, college, university, corporation, etc. - through a variety of interactions with the human record, that vast accumulation of recorded knowledge, information, and visual and textual creative works made by humans over the millennia. An individual library can plan and set policies with one overarching question in mind: How does it enhance the service given to the community and its members?"
Quotation by librarian and writer Michael Gorman in his column in the November 2005 issue of American Libraries.
Please remember that the Center for Alternative Testing (CAT) is located in 203-2 in the library, near the Circulation Desk on the main floor.
If students need tests read aloud, for example, or computer assistance with taking a test, instructors can call 342-6006 or stop by the CAT office.
Reviewed by Kay Young
Complete Copyright: An Everyday Guide for Librarians by Carrie Russell
Available in the Reference Collection on the library's main floor Ref KF2995 .C57 2004
Covering topics of interest to educators, the chapters of this book address topics such as public domain issues, copyright exemptions, fair use guidelines, first sale doctrine, films, videos, and DVDs in the classroom, use of interlibrary loaned materials, photographic reproductions, and hyperlinks from web pages.
Though written with the librarian in mind, this spiral-bound book gives a "useful and accessible overview of an area of information technology policy... No area of policy can be more central than copyright to what libraries do daily as they strive to provide their patrons with useful access to information."
The Karrmann Library offers many resources on the topic of copyright; please feel free to ask a librarian for more information. Call 342-1668 or click "Ask a Librarian" from the library's web page.
Also visit the library's Plagiarism Prevention web page for instructors.
UW-Platteville's General Copyright Guidelines
Kay Young, Editor
608.342.1134
young@uwplatt.edu