LIBRARY SKILLS TRAINING -PART 1. Amélie Bigras, librarian Gaspé campus library September 27th, 2018 English section

Transcription

1 LIBRARY SKILLS TRAINING -PART 1 Amélie Bigras, librarian Gaspé campus library September 27th, 2018 English section

2 CONTENT OF THE PRESENTATION 1. Tour of the library 2. Library website 3. Information research steps 4. Boolean operators 5. Available electronic resources 6. Demonstration of search strategies 7. Test!!!

3 Source :

4 INFORMATION RESEARCH STEPS 1. Prepare your research Choose an information source Identify the search terms (keywords) Find out more about your subject Develop and refine your topic, writing a research question 2. Finding information efficiently Choose an information system (library catalog, databases, search engine, etc.) Exploit search strategies (too many results, too few results) 3. Evaluate information* Relevance Up to date, credible, exact, reliable, objective, valid, quality 4. Cite sources Write your bibliography in a citation style Source :

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7 DEFINITION : BOOLEAN OPERATOR Term from computer programmation and mathematics. «Boolean operators are simple words (AND, OR, NOT) used as conjunctions to combine or exclude keywords in a search, resulting in more focused and productive results. This should save time and effort by eliminating inappropriate hits [ ]» - Alliant Libraries What is a Boolean Operator? Sources :

8 WHY ARE BOOLEAN OPERATORS SO USEFUL? To search in information systems (library catalog and databases). Resulting effects : to narrow my research when you have too many results or to broaden your search strategy when you have too few results

9 AND/ET OPERATOR To combine different concepts : iceberg AND "global warming" Keyword A and keyword B must both be present in the bibliographic description Too many results = reduce the number, precise your subject Careful! You might get 0 results if you use too many! Exact expression : quotation marks "keyword A" Filters : publication date, document type, etc. Sources :

10 OR/OU OPERATOR To use synonyms (sugar or sweetener or glucose or fructose or saccharose...) or spell variants (carcinogenic or cancerogenic) At least one term must be present in the bibliographic description Too few results = to get more hits, to broaden your subject Use generic terms but don t use words that are not related : tree OR larch Sources :

11 TRUNCATION Asterisk * At the end of the word to get all different spelling : clon* = will get these results : clone, clones, cloning,... Careful! If too narrow, this could make some noise : bed* to get bedshare and bedsharing you will also get : bed-wetting, bedazzle, bedbug, bedchamber, bedding, bedevil Solution : rightful place! : bedshar* (bedshare = bedsharing)

12 NOT/SAUF OPERATOR When you want to exclude a unwanted term that you see in the results Useful for more precision : sugar NOT aspartame Keyword A is present BUT keyword B is not in the bibliographic description Careful! Risk of eliminating all the results that have the keyword A! Majority of cases : just don t use it! Sources :

13 EXAMPLE OF A BOOLEAN SEARCH

14 1. I WANT A CAR. I VISIT A CAR DEALER WEBSITE TO LOOK FOR THE CAR OF MY DREAMS Which car model? Contract type : location or to buy? Fuel type : petroleum, hybrid ou electric? Build : SUV, sport, compact? Colors : red or blue or grey or black or white NOT Highlander model (too big) Answer = Which one is my ideal model??? Toyota AND location AND hybrid AND SUV AND (black OR grey) NOT highlander

15 DEMONSTRATION IN OUR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES

16 OUR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES ACCESS Define, precise a notion or the usage of a word To be familiarized with my subject To find books, specialized dictionnaries and encyclopedias, movies or other To find periodical articles (scientific or vulgarisation) To find videos (movies and documentaries) To follow the news and press releases Adapted by : cegepsl.qc.ca/bibliotheque/catalogue et ressources en ligne

17 Source : THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? Need help? Come and see us at your local library! Amélie Bigras, librarian poste 1580