This document provides an introduction to library research. It outlines a process for developing an effective research strategy including defining an information need, developing search terms, and knowing where to search for relevant sources like books, articles, and internet resources. It also discusses how to evaluate information by assessing the authority, currency, content, and objectivity of sources. Students are guided through applying these concepts by practicing developing search terms, assessing websites, and making an evaluation. The overall goal is to equip students with the skills to conduct thorough and academic library research.

1. INTRO TO LIBRARY
RESEARCH
ENGL 1101
Fall 2012
Erin L. Nagel

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

3. Define an information need
• Review your assignment
• How many sources? What type(s)? What is the
audience? What is the intended purpose?
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Talk to friends; browse web; read newspaper
• Identify main topic and related concepts
• Use a thesaurus; break down by subtopic
• Put it all together
• Develop a search strategy

4. Search strategy
• Use “ “ or ( ) to keep words together & in order, i.e.,
“senior citizens” or (senior citizens)
• Connect with Boolean operators
• AND is
 AND = narrow automatically
used by Google
and other search
engines to
combine terms.
 OR = expand
• Sometimes a
program will
use a + or – to
 NOT = exclude substitute for
AND or NOT

5. PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Developing search terms

6. Search terms
• Use these anywhere
CONCEPT 1 CONCEPT 2 CONCEPT 3
Main topic Related concept Subtopic
OR OR OR
AND AND
synonym synonym synonym
OR OR OR
synonym synonym synonym

7. Know where to look
• Looking for books?
• Use books for comprehensive information, often with an historical
perspective
• Find books in the library catalog
• Looking for articles?
• Articles are shorter and more current than books. Use when you
need in-depth but narrowly focused information
• Find articles in an article database
• Looking for internet resources?
• Internet resources are the most current sources for information.
Use the internet when you are looking for current information on a
broad variety of topics
• Find internet resources online, but not just anywhere…

8. How to find: 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.

9. PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Searching the internet

10. Evaluating Information
• Authority
• Currency
• Content
• Audience
• Purpose/Scope
• Objectivity/Bias
• Accuracy
• Quality
TIP: Trust no one!

11. Evaluate: Authority
Who wrote the information?
What are his/her/their credentials?
What affiliations, if any, does the author
have?
Is contact information provided?
Who published the work?
Who sponsored the work?

12. Evaluate: Currency
When was the work published?
Are there multiple editions?
Examine currency of references
NOTE: Old ≠ Bad!
ex: Historical information does not need to be
revisited as often as technological information

13. Evaluate: Content
Who is the intended audience?
What is the purpose?
What is the scope?
Examine objectivity
Examine for accuracy
Is the information verifiable?
Evaluate overall quality

14. PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Evaluating websites

15. Step 1: Look at the URL
• The URL gives you clues about the author, owner, and/or
publisher of the information
• Is it a personal webpage?
• Look for symbols like ~ or %, names, or words like users or
members
• What type of domain?
• .org, .com, .edu, etc.
• What else does the domain name tell you?
• Does it make sense with your topic?
protocol://subdomain.domain.topleveldomain/folder/file.type
protocol://subdomain.domain.topleveldomain/folder/page#anchor

16. URL domains
Extension Type
.edu Educational institution
.com Commercial organization
.gov Government agency
.mil Military entities
.net Internet service providers
.org Non-profit, religious, charity
.aero Air transportation industry
.biz Businesses
.coop Cooperatives
.info Information
.museum Museums
~ Personal Web page
2-letter country Web server in specified country
code

17. Your turn!
Topic: Alvin Ailey Topic: Birds
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet • http://www.members
/freetodance/biographie .tripod.com/~DAdam
s/ailey.html
• Great Performances: Free To
s/qkbrdinf.html
Dance - Biographies - Alvin • Dani's Pet Bird Care and
Ailey Safety Tips and
Information
• http://movingthroughsp
ace.wordpress.com/201 • http://www.birdso
0/10/22/alvin-aileys-
urce.org/gbbc/
revelations/
• Alvin Ailey's Revelations « • The Great Backyard
Move Through Space Bird Count

18. Step 2: Skim for basic info
• Who is the author? Is contact information
provided?
• Look for “Contact us” link, email address, etc.
• What are the author’s/producer’s values?
• What are the author’s credentials? Why should
you believe him/her?
• Look for “About” link
• How current is the information?
• Look for copyright or update date (usually at the bottom)

19. Step 3: Assess the content
• Are sources provided?
• Are there links to suggested resources or further reading?
• If bias is present, are there links to other points of view?
• Look for footnotes or web links to sources cited. Look for “See also” or
“Related links”
• Do the links work?
• What is the page’s purpose?
• Inform, sell, entertain, rant, parody, persuade?
• Is the information complete?
• Do the conclusions seem logical?
• Is it professional?
• Look for grammar errors and typos. How does the page “feel”?

20. Your turn!
Topic: Alvin Ailey Topic: Birds
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet • http://www.members
/freetodance/biographie .tripod.com/~DAdam
s/ailey.html
• Great Performances: Free To
s/qkbrdinf.html
Dance - Biographies - Alvin • Dani's Pet Bird Care and
Ailey Safety Tips and
Information
• http://movingthroughsp
ace.wordpress.com/201 • http://www.birdso
0/10/22/alvin-aileys-
urce.org/gbbc/
revelations/
• Alvin Ailey's Revelations « • The Great Backyard
Move Through Space Bird Count

21. Step 4: See what others say
• Who else uses the page?
• Enter the URL into http://alexa.com
• Try a Google search with
“link:www.pagename.com/file/path.htm”
• What else is known about the
author/creator/publisher?
• Enter the URL into http://whois.net
• Perform an internet search

22. Your turn!
Topic: Alvin Ailey Topic: Birds
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet • http://www.members
/freetodance/biographie .tripod.com/~DAdam
s/ailey.html
• Great Performances: Free To
s/qkbrdinf.html
Dance - Biographies - Alvin • Dani's Pet Bird Care and
Ailey Safety Tips and
Information
• http://movingthroughsp
ace.wordpress.com/201 • http://www.birdso
0/10/22/alvin-aileys-
urce.org/gbbc/
revelations/
• Alvin Ailey's Revelations « • The Great Backyard
Move Through Space Bird Count

23. Step 5: Final decision
• Is it good enough?
• Would you find information of a similar quality in
a printed or subscription resource?
• Is it right for your assignment based on your
answers in the previous steps?

24. Putting it all together
• Know your assignment
• Clarify your topic
• Be flexible in your search
• Critically evaluate your resources
“Intro to Library Research” © 2012 Erin Nagel uses material from “Google and Beyond Slides” by UC Berkeley Library, Copyright © 2012
The Regents of the University of California available at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Handouts.html used
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ )