Introduction to Library Resources

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Introduction to Library Resources

• Michel Nguessan, PhD
• Head of Library Academic Technology
• Assistant professor of Library Science
• Communication, Arts Humanities Librarian
• Digital Applications Systems Librarian
• Governors State University Library

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Introduction

• An introduction to GSU Library resources
• An introduction to other resources beyond GSU
  library
• A few words on other topics such as style,
  research process, etc.

3
GSU Library

• GSU Library homepage
• http//www.govst.edu/library/

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GSU Library

• GSU Library homepage the top menu

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GSU Library

• GSU Library homepage the left menu

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GSU Library

• The Library catalog
• Located on the top menu
• Contains the complete list of all materials in
  the library
• Books, audio books, electronic resources,
  audiovisual materials
• Extends to I-Share catalog

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GSU Library

• Using Library catalog
• Click on Library Catalog button in the top menu
• Enter search term(s) in the Search for field
• Select search criteria on the right side (author,
  Title, Subject, Call Number, etc).

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GSU Library

• The Library catalog Search Screen

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GSU Library

• The Library catalog Search Results
• Browse results to selects what you need

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GSU Library

• Call Numbers and library shelves
• The catalog allows you to find the call number of
  a book.
• The call number allows you to locate the book on
  the library shelves.
• Books are organized on the shelves according to
  the Library of Congress Classification system.

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GSU Library

• Library of Congress Classification system
• A classification scheme combining numbers and
  letters
• Classification of library materials by
  areas/field of knowledge
• More information of this system
• (library of Congress Classification Outline)
  http//www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/

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GSU Library/I-Share

• Extending the Search to I-Share catalog
• From the GSU catalog screen, click on I-Share
  catalog
• I-Share catalog will be displayed
• The searching method is similar to that of the
  GSU catalog
• Enter search terms and select search criteria

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GSU Library/I-Share

• Searching the Library catalog
• I-Share a consortium of academic libraries in
  Illinois
• You can search catalogs of I-Share libraries from
  the GSU website
• Materials are physically located in each I-Share
  library
• You can use Inter-Library Loan service to request
  a material located in another library

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GSU Library

• The Journals Databases A-Z List
• Located on the top menu
• Links to journals that will lead you to scholarly
  publications such as papers, articles, etc.
• Some links lead to a publication while some
  others lead to a list of publications
• Listed in alphabetical order.

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GSU Library

• Example Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)
• A list of publications to search by search
  term(s) (Find) and search criteria (Select a
  Field).

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GSU Library

• Example Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)
• Can also be searched by
• Publications
• Subject Terms
• Cited References
• Indexes
• Images

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GSU Library

• The Journals Databases A-Z List
• Other prominent sources include
• Eric
• Dissertations and Theses Database
• LexisNexis Academic

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GSU Library

• The Full text Journals List
• Another list similar to the Journals Databases
  A-Z List
• However, in most cases the full text journals
  list provide access to the full text of the
  article you search for.
• The search method is similar to that of the
  Journals Databases A-Z List

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GSU Library

• The Full text Journals List screen

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GSU Library

• Subject Area Resources
• You can search for information by subject area on
  the GSU Library website
• The link to the Subject Area Resources is on
  the left menu
• Resources are classified by disciplines/subjects
  taught at GSU.
• Each subject is associated with a Subject
  Librarian

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GSU Library

• Subject Area Resources page
• Click on your subject

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GSU Library

• Subject Area Resources page
• Resources specific to your discipline/class are
  presented

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Beyond GSU Library

• Google Scholar
• A subset of Google that provides information on
  scholarly publications
• Link http//scholar.google.com/

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Beyond GSU Library

• Other (Academic) Libraries catalogs
• In the process of researching all materials
  available on your topic, you can search other
  library catalogs too.
• These catalogs are available on the web
• Some large catalogs will provide more information
  than the GSU catalog
• You can use this technique to build a complete
  bibliography
• In some cases you can use Inter-Library Loan
  service to request some of these materials

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Beyond GSU Library

• Other (Academic) Libraries catalog
• Some major libraries catalog on the web
• Library of Congress
• The State Library of Illinois
• The University of Illinois (U-C) Library
• Library of major universities such as Harvard,
  Yale, the University of Michigan, etc.

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Beyond GSU Library

• Style manuals are critical in the
  research/writing process
• MLA Style manual (languages and literature)
• APA Style manual (social sciences)
• Chicago Style manual (general)
• Copies of these style manuals may be available in
  GSU library you can search for online versions
  on the Internet.

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Beyond GSU Library

• Bibliographic search in the research process
• Search for books/articles is a step in the
  research process
• You may find or you may not find what you looking
  for.
• If you do not find, this does not mean that you
  topic is not good or you should change it.
• Discuss with your professor to find alternative
  ways to collect information
• You can also discuss with your subject librarian

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Your Subject Librarian

• Michel Nguessan, PhD
• Head of Library Academic Technology       Assis
  tant Professor of Library ScienceDigital
  Applications Systems LibrarianCommunications,
  Arts Humanities Librarian
• Telephone [phone]Office Location
  C2303email m-nguessan_at_govst.edu