GED / GSA 579: Information Literacy
Online Catalog Search Assignment

NOTE: Catalog will "time-out" after 5 minutes.  If you see an error message, just close browser and reenter catalog.

 

Searching the SMC Online Catalog   (often referred to as an OPAC- Online Public Access Catalog)

Author, Title, Subject, LC Classification

Searching any libraries holdings is different from a search engine search because of how the materials have been cataloged and the authority control of author names and the controlled vocabulary for subject headings.

1.  Do an Author Search for Samuel Clemens (remember... put in last name first for your search).  The SEE ALSO button will take you to the "correct" name.

A. What is the "correct" name for Samuel Clemens

B.  How many books does SMC library carry for Samuel Clemens?

 

2. Do a title search for the book, The unofficial guide to starting a business online (remember... do not put in - THE -of a title starting with the articles a, an, the, le)

Note that the default view is Brief View.  Choose the Descriptive View and answer the following

A. Who is the publisher of the book?

B. What are the subject headings used to describe this book?

 

3. Click on the Subject heading Electronic Commerce from the search above. (The record or citation must be in long view mode)

A. How many books does SMC have in the library on this subject

Subject Headings - can be subdivided chronologically and geographically

4. Do a subject search for World War, 1939-1945

A. Scroll down the subject heading until you find the following subdivided subject heading -- World War, 1939-1945 Aerial operations, British
- How many books does SMC Library have on this particular topic?

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Questions 5-12 Find the following titles in the SMC Online Catalog and give the following information  

a)Call # and the Library of Congress Classification Class designation (found in class handout or online) for example the call letters (e.g. BJ is Ethics)

b)type of material (e.g. video, book, map, etc.) by default source is a book if not stated otherwise

c)material location (SMC Library, Reference, Oversize,  etc.)

d)material author(s) or editor

 

5> A History of Modern France

a

b

c

d

 

6> Great Debates in Philosophy

a

b

c

d

 

7> The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns

a

b

c

d

  

8> Internet Power Searching: The advanced Manual
a

b

c

d

9> An Illustrated Glossary of Architecture

a.

b

c.

d

 

10> The World in 1914

a. (note - this uses LC classification for maps using only numbers) - just give 

b

c

d

 

11> New Directions in Psychology

a

b

c

d

 

12> The Encyclopedia of religion and ethics

a

b

c

d

 

13. Do a search of the following journal title search in  SMC catalog

a) journal of ab

--- what happens?

b) Does SMC Library carry the journal Science?  If so where in the library are the  issues located?

 

14. Do a Subject Search of the subject heading   -- Oxford English Dictionary

What titles are covered by this subject heading ?

A.

 

B.

 

15.  View one of the above titles "The professor and the madman : a tale of murder, insanity, and the making of the Oxford English dictionary" in the DETAILED VIEW.

A. Name the other subject headings given to that particular book.

B. View the same Record in the MARC View (Machine Readable Cataloging Record)

- What numbered field (MARC TAG) contains the Title of the book?

- What numbered field contains the LC Classification number?

- What numbered field contains the LC Subject Headings?

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Keyword Guided :
Keyword searching allows one to search by natural language searching, as opposed to Subject searching which uses a controlled vocabulary.  Keyword searching also allows a search to expand or narrow search terms using Boolean terms (AND, OR, NOT)  See   Keyword/Boolean Searching @ http://www.netstrider.com/search/logic.html   NOTE: The truncation symbol for SMC Library Catalog is a ?

16. Choose Keyword-Guided in the SMC Online Catalog to do the following : 

Do the following "truncated" Keyword/Guided Search --  Econom?

A. How many "hits" do you come up with?

B. Give 5 possible words that could be found in a search of Econom?

-

-

-

-

-

 

17.  Narrow the above search down.  Put Histor?  in the second line.

A.  How many "hits" do you have?

B. What words will Histor? find?  Give a few examples

-

-

C. Narrow the search further.  Add Japan?  to the search.  How many "hits?"

 

18.  Do the search Economic History  AND Japan? 

A.  How many hits? 

B.  Why is this search --Economic History  AND Japan?--  different than 17 C  --Econom? AND Histor? AND Japan?--   ?

 

 

19.  I am researching: Bird feeding and habitat in Vermont

Break down the above terms into broader and narrower terms. 

For example: Bird = birds, birding, ornithology

Then combine terms in a KEYWORD/GUIDED Search.  Note the different searches you use and which are most successful.  Remember, it is important to notice, is your search too narrow or too broad?  You are always trying to mediate between the two extremes for a successful search

 

20.  Write out a search statement of your own.  Identify searchable terms -- find synonymous and narrower terms.  Then try a Keyword Guided search in the SMC catalog

Search Statement:

 

 

 

  Go to the UVM Library Catalog @ http://voyager.uvm.edu/webvoy.htm OR the Library of Congress Catalog @ http://catalog.loc.gov/ and try your search in # 20.

Note how many "hits" you get.

 

NOTE: You may use ILL (Interlibrary Loan) to obtain materials not carried by the SMC Library

 

Searching by material type (video, language, maps, etc)

21. 1st, be in  KEYWORD-GUIDED Search mode. Then Click the SEARCH LIMITS box and then under MEDIUM, choose Maps, then Click SET LIMITS.  From now on your Keyword searches will be limited to MAPS.  You will need to click on the ERASER icon to suspend the limits you have chosen

  Using the SEARCH LIMITS function, find the following in Keyword/Guided

A. A map of Japan

B. A video about cooking  *(note: change search limits to Medium: Video)

C. A book in the German language (*note: Change language setting to German)

 

22.  Without using the SEARCH LIMITS function, find a Map and Video about Korea.  Note how you found it.  

Hint: try video? AND Korea?

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DESCRIPTORS:

23.  Go to the ERIC database @ http://www.ericfacility.net/extra/pub/thessearch.cfm    

Look up the Descriptor Term:  Adventure Education in the ERIC Thesaurus

Give a BT (Broader Term) -

Give a RT (Related Term) - 

What is the term UF (Used For) -  

 

24.  Look at activity 9.2 on page 231 of your ISG textbook.  Find a special collection for topic of your own.  Give the library you find the collection.

 

We will cover parts of this assignment next week.  Feel free to email me sburks@smcvt.edu if you need help.    Otherwise just make notes about any problems you have and we'll cover it next week.