Library Research 101
Instructor: Bryan Sinclair
232-5094/office
sinclair@bulldog.unca.edu		 Spring 1998
Term I
TR 9:25 - 10:15

Course Description

Effective library research skills are essential for the liberally educated person. This course will introduce you to the various print and electronic resources available in today's academic library and in Ramsey Library specifically. You will learn effective ways to find, evaluate, and use information from a variety of sources to meet your individual research and information needs. In the end, this course will provide skills that will benefit your academic career and encourage independent lifelong learning.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Choose, define, and limit a research topic;
2. Identify the available print and electronic resources for addressing this research topic;
3. Develop a search strategy that best uses these resources; and
4. Demonstrate ability to use and evaluate effectively the information found.

Evaluation/Grading System

1. The Comprehensive Search Assignment ("The CSA") will demonstrate your ability to find, evaluate, and use informational resources following a logical and building search strategy. This assignment is worth 60% of your final grade.

2. Three (3) quizzes will assess your understanding of material discussed in class and covered in the textbook. Together, these are worth 30% of your final grade.

3. Two (2) in-class lab assignments will assess you ability to use online library databases. Together, they are worth 5% of your final grade.

4. Class attendance and participation are very important to your instructor. So much so that he has made them worth 5% of your final grade.

Grading Scale (Based on 100 percentage points):

100 - 92 = A 91 - 83 = B 82 - 74 = C 73 - 65 = D Below 65 = F

Absences/Late Work

You are expected to come to every class. E-mail your instructor ahead of time if there is a problem. The CSA is due on Thursday, March 12, at the beginning of class. No exceptions.

Textbook

Introduction to Library Research, 6th ed. (1996) is available in the bookstore.

 

 

Jan. 13 Introduction - What's expected
The CSA
Open Discussion/What Interests You - Possible Topics
The Liberal Arts and how this all fits in

Assignment: Read Chap. 1. Brainstorm some possible topics for your CSA. CSA proposals are due Jan. 20.
Jan. 15 Library Tour
The Academic Library in a nutshell

Assignment: Read Chap. 2. CSA proposals due next week.
Jan. 20 The Research Process

- What is meant by research?
- Choosing a research topic
- defining it (narrowing/broadening)
- Encyclopedias and Dictionaries - a great place to start

Thinking Critically

- The Information Flow
- Evaluating Information/judging quality

Assignment: Read Chaps. 3 & 4.

Jan. 22 The Library Catalog

WNCLN
L.C. Classification System
Searching Fundamentals

- Key Word v. Subject Headings (Controlled Vocabulary)

- Boolean logic and truncation
Jan. 27 In-class Lab Assignment, Part. I

Assignment: Study Chaps. 1 - 4
Jan. 29 Quiz #1 on Chaps. 1 - 4

CSA Discussion

Assignment: Read Chap. 5
Feb. 3 Periodical Literature

Journals/Magazines - What's the difference?
Formats/Location

Intro. to Periodical Indexes

Electronic and print
General v. subject

Assignment: Read Chap. 6
Feb. 5 Electronic indexes

Online (InfoTrac, FirstSearch, OVID, etc.)
CD-ROMs
Feb. 10 In-class Lab Assignment, Part II

Assignment: Study Chaps. 3, 5, & 6
Feb. 12 Quiz #2 on Chaps. 3, 5, & 6

CSA Discussion

Assignment: Read Chap. 7
Feb. 17 The Reference Collection - Key Resources

Assignment: Read Chap. 9
Feb. 19 The Reference Collection - Key Resources (continued)
Government Information

Assignment: Read Chap.10 and handout articles.
Feb. 24 Media
Government Information (Web & print)
Intro. to the Internet and Web
Feb. 26 Internet and the Web

- Search engines & directories
- Searching methods
- Critical thinking
Mar. 3 Quiz #3 on Chapters 7, 9, & 10 (+ handout articles)

Internet and the Web (continued)
Mar. 5 Ramsey Library on the Web
Databases & resources available
The future of information and libraries
CSA Discussion
Mar. 10 CSA work day
Mar. 12 CSA due at beginning of class

Class wrap-up

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