2. LIBRARY RESEARCH
What do I want to know?
Define an information need and develop a
strategy
Where do I find it?
Know where to look
How do I know if it’s right for me?
Evaluate information before you use it
4. TYPES OF INFORMATION SOURCES
Primary Sources Secondary Sources
Closest to actual Removed from
event, person, etc. primary source
in question. Interpretations, rest
Original, unedited atements, reflection
thoughts and s
observations Easier to access
May be more
difficult to obtain
6. LOOK AT:
DATES, TYPE OF RESOURCE, & AUTHOR
Primary Source Secondary Source
Civil War Diary Marching to Appomatox
(electronic resource) (book)
Author: Author:
Lt. Cornelius C. Platter Ken Stark, author/ illustrator from
Subject: Wisconsin
Subject:
Civil War
End of the US Civil War
Date:
Date:
1864-1865
2009
Find it: Find it:
Digital Library of Galileo CSU Library Juvenile collection
7. EXAMPLES:
Primary Source Secondary Source
Letter to US Bureau of Helen Keller: A life
Investigation chief (book)
(electronic resource) Author:
Author: Dorothy
Dave Gersham, Bureau of Herrmann, author/biographer
Investigation officer Subject:
Subject: Helen Keller, 1880-1968
Author’s suspicions of Helen Date:
Keller as socialist, March 1918
1998
Date:
Find it:
March 16, 1918
CSU Library Circulating collection
Find it:
US Bureau of Investigation Case
Files
8. EXAMPLES:
Primary Source Secondary Source
Newsfilm clip of African Freedom Rides
American students turned away
from using the public library in (encyclopedia entry)
Albany, Georgia Author:
(multimedia)
Edward A. Hatfield
Producer/Distributor:
WALB Subject:
Subject: Freedom Rides during 1961
African American citizens and Date:
public library
2008
Date:
1962 Find it:
Find it: New Georgia Encyclopedia
Digital Library of Georgia
11. BOOKS
Classified as fiction or nonfiction
Fiction entertainment
Nonfiction factual
Comprehensive information; expert analysis, historical
perspective
Takes time to research, write, and publish
Lengthy
12. REFERENCE BOOKS
Reference books nonfiction books consulted for
authoritative information
Encyclopedia- collection of detailed articles
Dictionary- alphabetical listing of words
Directory- listing of people, companies, etc.
Almanac- compilation of statistics, figures, etc.
Atlas- geographical and historical information
Handbook- concise data on a subject
May be general or subject-specific
Use for verification and starting research
14. PERIODICALS
Published on a recurring basis
May be in-depth, but narrowed focus
More current information than books
Types:
Popular magazines & newspapers
Professional/ trade publications
Scholarly journals
Look at:
◦ Author ◦ Publication frequency
◦ Advertising ◦ Article length
◦ Purpose ◦ Illustrations
◦ References ◦ Intended audience
15. PERIODICALS
Peer-review: Process by which articles are critically
evaluated and considered for inclusion in a scholarly
journal.
Process may be lengthy
Conducted by experts in the field
Original research, experiments, expert analysis
Also called: Refereed, Scholarly, Academic
22. INTERNET SOURCES
Most current information
Wide variety of topics
Uneven reliability
NOTE: Online ≠ free!
It’s all about where you start
23. INTERNET RESOURCES
Search engines not all created equal!
Subject directories organized links to resources
Online reference Reference sources
(dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)
Online periodicals Some are free
Web portal may be general or subject-specific
Professional & Trade organizations websites provide
industry news, directories, etc.
29. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information Source
What is the impact of drug Encyclopedia of
use on adolescent mental Psychology
health? Article in Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors
journal
American Academy of
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry website
30. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information Source
What is the impact of drug Encyclopedia of
use on adolescent mental Psychology
health? Article in Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors
journal
American Academy of
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry website
31. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/ Topic Information Source
Which U.S. insurance Evaluating Business
provider generated the Performance: Small
most revenue in 2011? business case studies
(book)
Business Insights:
Essentials (online
database of company
data, history, and reports)
32. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/ Topic Information Source
Which U.S. insurance Evaluating Business
provider generated the Performance: Small
most revenue in 2011? business case studies
(book)
Business Insights:
Essentials (online
database of company
data, history, and reports)
33. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information source
What is the official language The Voice of the steppe :
of Kazakhstan? modern Kazakh short
stories (book)
Article in Soviet & Post-
Soviet Review (periodical)
CIA World Factbook at
www.cia.gov (online
reference)
34. PICK THE BEST SOURCE
Question/Topic Information source
What is the official language The Voice of the steppe :
of Kazakhstan? modern Kazakh short
stories (book)
Article in Soviet & Post-
Soviet Review (periodical)
CIA World Factbook at
www.cia.gov (online
reference)
35. WHERE TO GO NEXT?
In Galileo, Browse by Subject to find suggested
Databases Books
Periodicals
Other
reference