TexShare Databases Basic Reference Lesson 1

TexShare Databases Program Using TexShare Databases for Basic Reference Lesson 1: The Search Process

Introduction
MasterFILE Premier
Academic Search Complete
Business Source Complete
Newspaper Source
Consumer Health Complete
How to use the most common TexShare databases for basic reference in the public libraries :

Reasons for using the TexShare Databases
Access to high quality, accurate information
Free
Able to conduct focused searches using limiters and expanders
Has both historical and up-to-date information
No shelf space required
Search many sources at once

Reasons for using the TexShare Databases
Portable information
Print
Save
Email
Copy/paste material
Appropriate citations

Lesson 1: The Search Process
Steps of the search process
Conduct a reference interview
Formulate a search strategy
Access the databases
Identify appropriate databases
Perform the search

1. Conducting the Reference Interview
Information need
Purpose or desired outcome
Type and amount of information needed
Types of sources needed
The patron’s knowledge of the subject
Previous searching efforts
Project deadline
Teacher demands for types of materials, if any
Final product – report, essay, debate, poster, etc.
Determine

1. Interview continued….
Remember!
Communicate with the patron in a receptive and polite manner
Avoid using jargon
Make sure the query you enter into the database is free of spelling or other errors
Explain the search strategy and sources
Help to narrow or broaden the search as needed

2. Formulating a Search Strategy
Keyword
Phrase
Subject term

Try it!
Homelessness
Alternative energy sources
Health care reform

3. Accessing the Databases
http://www.libraryoftexas.org/

4. Identify the appropriate databases
General Information and Periodicals
Academic Search Complete (EBSCO)
MasterFILE Premier (EBSCO)
Newspaper Source (EBSCO)
Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection (EBSCO)
Religion and Philosophy Collection (EBSCO)

4. Databases, continued…..
Homework and Education
Primary Search (EBSCO Searchasaurus and Kids Search)
Middle Search (EBSCO Kids Search, Student Research Center)
MAS Ultra (EBSCO Student Research Center)
ERIC - E ducation R esource I nformation C enter (EBSCO)
Professional Development Collection (EBSCO)

4. More databases…..
History and Genealogy
Texas Reference Center (EBSCO)
World History Collection (EBSCO)
Military and Government Collection (EBSCO)
Handbook of Texas
HeritageQuest Online
Texas Digital Sanborn Maps

4. Still more databases…..
Health and Medical
Health Source: Consumer Edition (EBSCO Consumer Health Complete)
Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition (EBSCO Consumer Health Complete)
Natural and Alternative Treatments (EBSCO Consumer Health Complete)
Health and Wellness Resource Center
Health Reference Center Academic

4. Even more databases…..
Business Resources
Business Source Complete (EBSCO)
Newspaper Source (EBSCO)
Regional Business News (EBSCO)

4. Yet more databases…..
Books and Literature
20 th Century Poetry Collections
Contemporary Authors
Contemporary Literary Criticism
Dictionary of Literary Biography
Literature Resource Center with Scribner and Twayne’s
WorldCat

Try it!
Go to a Public Library website; find a list of databases including the TexShare resources.
Click on the TexShare icon to see a list of available resources.

Click on the Complete List of Databases link

Now click on All EBSCO Databases

5. Perform the Search
Basic Searches
Contain one or more keywords or phrases.
Use quotation marks to keep words within a phrase together when searching.

5. Searching
Advanced Searches
Search using keywords or phrases.
May be narrowed by using limiters, Boolean operators , and field codes .
Limiters
Narrow down the number of results
Makes the list of results more useful .

5. Continued searching
Limiters
Full Text
Publication date range
Publication type
Source type
Multimedia images

5. Searching continued … NOT… … OR… … AND… Boolean Operators

5. Other searches
Subject Term Search
Go to EBSCO host ’s Academic Search Complete .
Select Subject Terms at the top of the screen.

Try it! Discussion questions What were some of the controlled vocabulary words and phrases? Did any of the words or phrases seem as though they would help to narrow the results?

Interpreting the Results
Limit or expand results?
Product: result list of articles
View the detailed citation/summary.
Use abstract
Go to full text

Citation
Detailed citation contains:
Article abstract
Source name
Document type
Article
Book
Newspaper
Dissertation
Other content
Subject terms
Use it!

Narrowing, refining, revising Narrow subject using Source types or Subject

Narrowing, refining, revising
Search the Subject Thesaurus
Add limiters
Use Advanced Search option

Brainstorm and Suggest
Too many results
Too few results
Irrelevant results
Additional techniques?

Viewing the Final Results
View results list - Patron decides which resources are acceptable.
Click title in result list and view citation/summary
OR
Click “full text” link for the article. Displays in HTML or PDF

Viewing the Final Results
Print
Email
Save
Cite
Export
EBSCO folder
Create a folder by signing in
Save material up to 18 months
a. b. c. d. e. f.

Discussion
Electronic databases vs print resources
Electronic databases vs. free internet search engines
Types of full-text formats?

Lesson Summary
Components of reference interview; why it is a vital step
When to use databases rather than Web search engines or print sources
How to access all TexShare databases
How to formulate a search strategy; types of searches; database limiting features; basic & advanced search techniques.
How to create & use a personal EBSCO folder.

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TexShare Databases Basic Reference Lesson 1

by TSLAC - Library Development on Feb 16, 2010

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TexShare Databases Basic Reference Lesson 1 — Presentation Transcript