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 recallRelevance – significance of results; high relevance

is desirableRecall – percentage of relevant records which are

found; high precision is desirableSearch 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

1. URL - domain

2. Authority – who is responsible?

3. Accuracy – sources?

4. Objectivity – purpose?

5. Currency – date?

Would you use for a paper?

Stop Words

• Common words that are ignored in a search– 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

• 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 why libraries have automated systems

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

• 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?

• http://design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/udprincipleshtmlformat.html

Digital Divide

• Do you know people on both sides?

• How can libraries help?

Paper

• Due in 2 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 library-specific articles. 

Class Web Page

• http://fog.ccsf.edu/~acosta/56.htm