The SlideShare presentation provides guidance on the use of the Harris Learning Library's (HLL) website for finding relevant information sources for assignments. HLL serves Nipissing University, Canadore College, the surrounding communities, and the general public. It is located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.

1. How Do I…
Find Information for
my Assignments?

2. Why can’t I just
use the Internet?

3. The Internet has lots of
great information,
but not all websites are appropriate
for college and university
assignments.

4. Why?
 There are no controls on the Internet.
 Anyone can create a website and say whatever they want.
 Too much information! It’s hard to sort through it all to find
what you need.
 You need to know you have reliable information for college
and university assignments.

5. This is where the Library comes in…
The Library provides many reliable
information sources and can help you
find what you need for your
assignments!

6. “Okay, how do I find
information in the Library?”

7. First step...
o Understand your assignment!
o Read it over carefully.
o What is it you are expected to do?
o If something isn’t clear to you, ask
your instructor.

8. Choose a Topic
Pick something you’re interested in.
Make your topic specific.
Do some background reading to get
familiar with your topic.
Look up terms you don’t understand.

9. Background Reading
o Reference books (encyclopedias,
dictionaries, etc.)
o Your course textbook
o Check the Catalogue for other books
related to your topic

10. Go to Your Library
Select Search Resources or Library Search
www.canadorecollege.ca/library
www.nipissingu.ca/library

11. Decide what kinds of information you need.
o Books?
o Journal articles?
o Newspapers?
o Maps?
o Statistics & data?
o Government documents?
o Websites?

12. The kind of information you need depends
on the type of assignment you need to do.
 Are you writing an essay or research paper?
 Do you need facts or opinion?
 Do you need current or historical information?
 Are you looking at different viewpoints
 about an issue?

13. Finding Books and Articles…

14. The success of your search depends
on the right search terms.
Think of single words or short phrases
that represent the main ideas of your
topic and use these as search terms.

15. Sample topic:
What are the effects of global
warming on weather?
The main concepts are:
global warming
weather

16. Finding Books

17. Library Website www.nipissingu.ca/library
Select Nipissing’s
Search
Resources

18. Library Website www.canadorecollege.ca/library
Or Canadore’s
Library Search
option

19. Search using single words or short phrases
that represent the main idea(s) of your topic.
Note that the system
will provide location
options and other
ideas.

20. You can narrow a search by
adding another term.

21. Use left side
column to Modify
your results.
For example,
Availability,
Resources Type,
Publication
Date, or Author.

22. Select the title for more information.

23. Note the Call Number and Location
to help you find the item.
The Call Number is the item’s
“address” on the shelves.
Status tells you which
library the item belongs
to and if it’s available.
Location tells you
where to go in the
library to find the item.

24. o Act as an item’s address
on the shelves.
o Are a combination of
letters and numbers.
o Are read line by line.
o Visit the Info Desk for help.
QC
981.8
.G56
G674
2006
Call numbers:

25. Electronic resource indicates that the
item is an e-book.
Click on the link to access the book online.

26. Not finding what you need in the Search?
o Check the spelling of your search terms.
o Try variations of your search terms, such as:
o Synonyms, i.e. adolescents, youths, teenagers
o Closely related words, i.e. computer games, video games
o Alternate spellings, i.e. behavior, behaviour
o Plural or singular, i.e. women, woman
o Try broader search terms, i.e. Canada instead of Ontario
o Try more specific terms, i.e. anorexia instead of eating
disorders

27. Finding Articles

28. Articles are excellent choices when you want:
o Information on a specific topic
o Up-to-date information on current
events, new products, trends, or the
latest research on a topic
o Different viewpoints on an issue

29. The Library subscribes to many
databases
which provide you access to
thousands of online magazines,
journals, newspapers & similar
publications.

30. Databases allow you to search several
publications at once...
...so your searching is faster and
more efficient than browsing
one publication at a time!

31. Many of the Library’s
articles are available
in their entirety
through these databases.

32. What’s the difference
between a
journal and a magazine?

33. Magazine Articles
• General-interest
• Not scholarly
• Written by reporters, feature
editors
• Wide audience
• No abstracts or references
• Glossy, with pictures
• Advertisements
• Usually < 5 pages

34. • Scholarly
• Written by subject experts
• Report on original research
• Specific audience
• Includes an abstract and
references
• Usually no pictures
• No advertisements
• Usually > 5 pages
Journal Articles

35. To find articles on any topic
You search online,
through the Library websites
www.nipissingu.ca/library
OR
www.canadorecollege.ca/library

36. There are now more ways to Search for articles!
Select Search Resources or Library Search
www.canadorecollege.ca/library
www.nipissingu.ca/library

37. Narrow your
results to view
Articles.
Don’t forget to
Select Apply
Filters

38. Continue to
modify results
and search
terms as
needed.
Then select
the Available
Online link as
with books.

39. Another way to find Articles is to return to the Home Page
Select Library Resources
Select Databases

40. Select the letter associated with your
preferred database.

41. General databases provide articles on a
variety of subjects.
Other databases are subject-specific.

42. Search using single words or short phrases that
best represent the main ideas of your topic.

43. If you get too many results, you need to
narrow your search.

44. Adding another search term results in fewer,
more relevant results.
When using multiple search terms, join them with “and”.

45. Selecting Academic Journals in Source Types
will limit the results to these publications only.

46. Clicking on a Subject adds that term to the
search and focuses the results.

47. To find out more about an article, hold your cursor
over the article preview icon or click on the title.

48. To get the full article, look for a full text
link, or click on

49. Another Way to Find Articles
If you’ve found a good article, look at the
references to see what sources the
author cited.
You may find more articles related to your
topic!

50. Evaluate the information you find…
No matter where your information
comes from, you need to look at it
critically to decide if it is reliable and
relevant to your assignment.

51. Ask yourself a few questions.
 Is the author a subject expert?
 Is the information current?
 Is the information relevant to your topic?
 Is the information intended to provide facts, or to
entertain, promote an opinion, or sell something?
 Was it written at a level appropriate for your topic
and type of assignment?

52. o Write it down,
o save it on a USB key,
o email it to yourself, or
o print your information
You will need to include all your sources in a list of references.
Make sure you keep track of all the sources
you use for information.

53. We’re here to help!
Please visit the Service Desk or contact us:
Email
 libraryhelp@nipissingu.ca (NIPISSING)
 library.help@canadorecollege.ca (CANADORE)
Phone
 705-474-3450 ext. 4222