Workplace Communications

14 April 2011 Paul Baines , Instructor; Liz Dobson, Librarian

LIBRARY & RESEARCH

4 libraries at Centennial College - You have access to all of them.

library.centennialcollege.ca

Distance Access

You need an active library account to use the library; e.g. borrow books, access full text e-resources from off campus, renew books online, etc.

Check your Library Account – is it active? Do you have any books on loan or on hold? Want to renew online?

For instructions on how to get a library card, click on “How do I…get a library card?”

START YOUR RESEARCH box A quick way to start searching for research resourceshttp://library.centennialcollege.ca/

Example: do a simple search for books on report writing…

START YOUR RESEARCH boxUse “Books” tab

If a book is at another campus, or if it is signed out to another person, you can “Place Hold” – and be the next person in line to get it. (Library sends you an email - you’re my.centennialcollege.ca account - when available.)

Here is an e-book in the library catalogue on the report writing – “electronic resource”

Click on the lock symbol to read this full text electronic book.

Centennial Library loans out e-readers that you can use with e-books. (1-week loan period.)

Example: do an Advanced Search for books if you want more search options:

START YOUR RESEARCH boxClick on “Advanced Search”

Does Centennial Library - Ashtonbee campus - have books and videos relating to truck engines? Note FIELDS options:

ORBoolean operator that collects

Example: truck OR trucking (etc.)You get a list of records that contains hits for either truck or trucking (etc.) – “ANY”

ANDBoolean operator that combines…

trucks AND engines (trucks or heavy duty or diesel) AND engines

You get a list that contains hits for records that have both search terms/strings of terms (“ALL”)

Q: Is there a way to get MORE books and videos on truck engines?

A: Yes – do a more general search…

Q: Does Centennial Library have journal and newspaper articles of interest to you?

A: YES. Search “Articles & E-resources” – Centennial Library has about 100 databases

A typical journal article record with full text access on diesel fuels in a database. Note : FIELDS ..

About Articles & E-resources…

E-resources:Licensed databases - many let you search tens of thousands of

articles at one time

Journals:• Published in issues regularly (weekly, monthly, etc.)• Each issue contains several articles (essays) by different

authors

About E-resources & the Internet – what’s the difference…?

Internet• Quality varies widely• Inherent commercial bias• Huge• Limited user search tools

E-resources (databases)

• More academic info, more consistent reliable quality

• Commercial free• Big• Precision tools for searching

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Click here when you are looking for a database;

e.g. Business Source Complete

Click here if you want to search more than one

database at a time

Click here if you are looking for a specific

journal or article

Use this search box when you are looking for

a listing of databases that will have articles on

your subject (a popular choice)

SELECT YOUR SUBJECT AREA…Click on “Articles & E-Resources” tab. Then select your subject area to find a list of databases (“e-resources”) in your field of interest; e.g. transportation, business, environmental technology, newspapers, etc.

Centennial Library has approximately, 35 databases that contain, or specialize in business - including transportation industry coverage

Databases offer TOOLS to help you refine your searches. Explore the search page for options & help screens…

A sample article record – with print, email, save options…

Email option page…

Centennial Library has databases that specialize in news coverage, and databases that include newspaper articles along with journal articles.

Centennial Library has approximately 23 databases that contain, or specialize in, transportation studies.

Service & repair databases:• Mitchell On Demand Medium Truck –

available in Library only• Mitchell On Demand – available on campus

only• Motor/ALLDATA – available on campus only• Small Engine Repair Reference Center• ChiltonLibrary.com

Academic Search Premier database covers all subjects – including transportation industry…

A USEFUL TOOL in most databases: ThesaurusMost databases offer a thesaurus - “Subject Terms” - to help you with choosing successful search terms .

Thesaurus example:Search the Subject Terms list here to see if “electric cars” is a preferred term.

If yes, you can include them in your searches – to increase the chances of getting more hits and more relevant results.

Terms that you find in the Thesaurus are entered into the subject field. Here is an example…

ANOTHER USEFUL TOOL - FIELD LIMITS:If you want articles that focus mainly on your topic (“not just a passing mention”), you can limit your search term(s) to a specific field. SU Subject Terms field (“thesaurus terms”), TI Title field, and AB Abstract field are all good field limiters.

RESEARCH & WRITING HELP…

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NEED HELP?http://library.centennialcollege.ca/Explore the Library homepage for support services…

Book a tutor. Up to 4 hours/week free help from a senior student in any of your courses. “Let’s Talk” sessions are included.

Make an appointment online, or come in person to the Library.

Ask the Library…Use our askON chat help available 7 days a week. You can also email, phone, talk to us in the Library.

Guides …On School of Transportation subjects, etc.

LIBRARY & RESEARCH…Many pages providing research & writing advice, with examples

Your essay normally includes 3 types of material…

1. Your ideas

2. Your summaries of others’ ideas and facts

3. Quotations from your sources

Evaluate web sites tutorial

• Ithaca College Library Training Website http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/

Evaluate websites tutorials

Ithaca College Library (Ithaca, New York)Website evaluation exercises

http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think7.html

Widener University. Wolfgram Memorial Library (US)http://www.widener.edu/libraries/wolfgram/evaluate

Library contactsAshtonbee Library: (416) 289-5000 ext. 7000

library.centennialcollege.ca/ask (links to AskON Online Chat Research service and AsktheLibrary email)

Liz Dobson 416 -289 --5000 ext. 7007edobson@centennialcollege.ca