Transcript November 18 - Fog.ccsf.edu

Periodical Databases
• Full-text article – entire textual contents of
article in online format
• Abstract – brief summary of article
• Citation – basic information required to
locate an article in its source publication.
Elements of Searching
Retrieval – number of results; low retrieval is
desirable
Precision – combination of relevance and recall
Relevance – significance of results; high relevance
is desirable
Recall – percentage of relevant records which are
found; high precision is desirable
Search strategies tend to trade-off these elements
against each other. The best search strategy
maximizes relevance and precision while
minimizing retrieval
Greater Precision
• Searching by Subject Headings, not
keywords
Greater Recall/Retrieval
• Searching by subject headings, not
keywords
Web Searching v. DB Searching
• Web
– Unstructured
– No subject headings
– Few fields (title, URL)
• Database
– Structured
– Content is analyzed and described
– Several searchable fields
Evaluation Criteria for Web Pages
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URL - domain
Authority – who is responsible?
Accuracy – sources?
Objectivity – purpose?
Currency – date?
Would you use for a paper?
Stop Words
• Common words that are ignored in a search
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A
An
And
At
But
For
From
Of
On
The
To
A&I Database
• Abstracting and Indexing Database –
Usually subject based databases of
citations (and abstracts) and references to
published materials.
• Different from a full-text database in that
articles are not included.
• Many database combine full-text,
abstracts and citations
Adaptive Technology Examples
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Keyboards with larger keys
Trackballs
Voice output software
Voice recognition software
ZoomText – magnification software
Braille software and printers
Digital Divide
• Differences in computer ownership,
access and Internet access across various
demographic groups.
• Libraries have a role in bridging the digital
divide and serving as an access point for
digital have-nots.
• Libraries (particularly public libraries) are
educational institutions accessible to all
and can fulfill this unique role.
8 steps in preparing a search
1. Format – What do you need? Books,
journals articles, Web sites, images,
films, music etc.?
2. Concepts – what are you looking for?
Define the concepts.
3. Terms – Select keywords to describe the
concepts. Are there variations? Are
there authorized headings?
8 steps
4. Operators – How should you combine the
terms?
5. Fields – Which fields should you use to
search?
6. Time – Is there a time frame or date range
you can use to focus your search?
7. Revise, refine, revise – View results and
modify search. Narrow or expand?
8 Steps
8. Expand your horizons – When you’ve
finished searching one place, where else?
Library Automation
Top 5 Reasons to Automate
1. Reports
2. Access
3. Confidentiality
4. Collection Management
5. Circulation
RFI/RFP
• RFI – Request for Information
• RFP – Request for Proposal – asks
vendors to submit proposals on large
library purchases.
Automation Considerations
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Outlets
Furniture
Network
Hardware
Barcode readers
Receipt printers
Automation Vendors
• Sirsi-Dynix
– http://www.sirsidynix.com/
• TLC
– http://www.tlcdelivers.com/
• Polaris
– http://www.polarislibrary.com/
• Ex Libris
– http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/
• Innovative Interfaces Inc. - CCSF
– http://www.iii.com/
Universal Design
• What does it mean?
Digital Divide
• Do you know people on both sides?
• How can libraries help?
Paper
• Due in 3 weeks
• Make sure you read my comments on your
topic
• Schedule your interview – it may take time
• Do your research – don’t wait
• Start writing
• Let me know if you get stuck
MLA
• Cite author and year in parens. List of all
cited works at end. 5-6 pages does not
include bibliography.
Professional Literature
• You can cite sources from the popular literature
(such as New York Times, Newsweek magazine
etc.), I want you to find at least one source on
your topic from the library literature. You can
use EBSCO's Library, Information Science and
Technology Abstracts database to find abstracts
from the library literature; you would then need
to locate the complete articles that you
select. You can also use InfoTrac Expanded
Academic ASAP, which has some full-text, but
you will need to focus your search to find libraryspecific articles.
Class Web Page
• http://fog.ccsf.edu/~acosta/56.htm