1. Introduction to Library
Resources and Services
Jennifer Thiessen
Liaison Librarian, Education
James A. Gibson Library
July 2012

2. The James A. Gibson library
Schmon Tower
floors 2, 5-10

3. IRC
• The IRC (Instructional Resource Centre)
– K-12 curriculum material
– Emphasis on teaching
• The James A. Gibson Library
– Material on the theory, philosophy, history and
practice of education (mostly on 8th floor)
– For your papers and projects for your Education
classes
– Emphasis on research

4. Goals for today’s session
 Part I: Library Services
 My Library Account
 Laptop loans
 Photocopying services
 RACER
 Study space
 RefWorks
 Part II: Library Resources
 Catalogue
 Databases
 Your Research Guide

8. My Library Account
My Library Account allows library users to
 see a list of items they have signed out
 renew and place holds on items
 view details of outstanding library fines
 log in to library databases from off campus

9. Setting up My Library Account
• Library website > • Log in with your Brock
• My Library Account username and password

10. Laptops
 The Library currently has 40 laptops available for 4
hour loans from the Circulation Desk.
 All laptops have Office software on them.
 Laptops can be taken out of the Library.

11. Photocopying Services
• Photocopy cards
• Colour and transparency copying
• Posters, photos, banners and other large
format prints (5th Floor)

12. RACER
RACER is the Ontario interlibrary loan system.
Borrow books through RACER (pick them up
and return them at our Circulation Desk)
Get photocopies of journal articles (yours to
keep)

17. Study spaces on library floors
• The upper floors of the Library (8-10) are
designated quiet zones.
• The mid-level floors (5-7) are designated low
level talking.
• Graduate Study room (6th floor): study carrels,
meeting room

19. RefWorks
RefWorks is software that allows you to:
 Save references to books and articles from our
catalogue and our databases.
 Automatically create bibliographies or works cited
pages in APA style format.

20. The concept:
export
database bibliographic
reference(s) management
software
* optional *
produce bibliography

22. Part II: Library Resources
in Education
• Books
• Journals
• Research Guide
Hint: Start with the Research tab.

23. 3/365 Research Aspirations by catspyjamasnz
• Use the Catalogue to find books (both print
and e-books)
• Use the Databases to find journal articles.

27. Catalogue Practice
• Go to the Library Catalogue. Do a keyword
search on international students. Now do a
keyword search on “international students.”
Why is there a difference in results?
• Stay in the Library Catalogue. Do a keyword
search on globalization. Now do a subject
search on globalization. Why are the results
different?

28. Click on Research,
then Databases.
Click on Education to
see a list of databases
for that subject area.

29. Finding Journal
articles
•Use databases

32. • Looks for full text in other locations (Does not
guarantee full text).

33. Database Practice
• Find the Education databases.
• Open up Education Research Complete.
• Do a search on “international students.” How
are the results arranged? How can you limit
your results to peer reviewed journal articles?

34. Your Research Guide
• Where to start if you have forgotten
everything I have just said.

37. Summary
 Information about library services for graduate students can be found here:
 http://www.brocku.ca/library/services-lib/grad-students
 The most important services you should know about are:
 My Library Account
 RACER
 RefWorks
 Library Resources:
 Library catalogue – books
 Library databases – journal articles
 Research Guide
 Contact me if you need help:
 jthiessen@brocku.ca