The document provides an overview of the Globe Education Network's online library resources and how to evaluate sources for library research. It covers various library databases and e-resources, including academic journals, e-books, and research guides, highlighting the importance of selecting credible sources. Additionally, it includes tips on citation formatting and evaluation of web sources to ensure information quality.

1. Introduction to Library Research Part 2 : The Globe Education Network (GEN) Online Library and Evaluating Sources Welcome! The session will begin 8/11/09 at 9 a.m. Elaine Settergren, [email_address] April 2009 – Elaine Settergren

2. Today’s Library Lessons GEN Online Library Databases and E-journals Academic Search Premier [EBSCO] Academic OneFile [Gale] ProQuest Newsstand 360 Search E-Journal Portal E-books Recommended websites Evaluating Sources Types of sources Academic vs. trade vs. popular Websites

3. Where to look? Like Shopping Choose your source based on what you’re looking for

4. GEN Online Library http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/ The online library contains: Over 39,000 journals online, spanning ≈30 years in 84 databases. Over 7,500 e-books . Recommended web sites . Online help And more – explore the site!

5. Databases What are library databases?

6. Databases What are library databases? 1) A private collection of e-"stuff” 2) A specific search engine for finding and getting the "stuff"

7. Databases Private? proprietary Not for “free” on the internet (Google, MSN, etc.) Example: Consumer Reports website Must buy a subscription Library databases such as EBSCO Academic Search Premier e-versions of Consumer Reports full-color reviews, charts and buying guides Free (for you – library pays!) 

8. Databases The library pays so that you don’t have to! But that’s why you must: 1) Go to the library website 2) Log in Password: firstname.lastname Username: last 4 digits of your SS#

9. Databases “ Stuff”? Professional sources E-journals, articles , newspaper stories etc. Professional reports E-books and e-book excerpts laws and legal docs, business intelligence, financial data, images general documents Databases have professional sources that include: articles from journals, reports, trade publications and news

10. Let’s Tour the Databases EBSCO, Gale, and ProQuest 360 Search E-journal portal

11. Academic Search Premier [EBSCO] Interdisciplinary Many Scholarly Many Full text

12. Academic OneFile [Gale] Interdisciplinary Many Scholarly Many Full text

13. ProQuest Newsstand News: local, national, international Current events and editorials

14. First let’s explore: 360 Search Search many databases at once! Great for: Searching by topic (“research by topic” guides) Finding an article, if you already know the title.

15. E-Journal Portal When you know the journal you want, find it fast!

16. E-Books Find them in the GU/MSB catalog, some databases, and Books 24x7 Search the Online Catalog for library e-books Follow catalog link on library homepage Search Narrow to “electronic” Follow the “online access” link in the catalog record See the e-book guide here: http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/research-guides/guides-to-resources/e-books-guide/ for details

17. Books24x7 Not part of the GEN Library, but is part of GEN Online. Business and IT topics only (so far) Access through SkillSoft Our help page for Books24x7 can be found here: http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/research-guides/guides-to-resources/e-books-guide/books-24x7-help/

18. Web sources Research by Topic By program/gen ed Selected by GEN Librarians

19. Help! General Research Guides Research by Topic Guides Ask the librarian. I’m happy to help!

20. APA Citation Tips In-Text Author’s name Date of publication Page # (sometimes) This will lead the reader to the References at the back of your paper . References Name Date Article Title Journal Title Journal Volume # Page #s Date you accessed it Database This will lead the reader to the source.

21. Additional Tips If you already have a citation, you’ll know where to look! Cheney, C. L. (2005). Brothers gonna work it out: Sexual politics in the golden age of rap nationalism . New York: New York University Press. Retrieved from NetLibrary. Garrity, B., & Concepcion, M. (2007, May). A Hip-Hop History Lesson . Billboard . 119(18), p. 8. Retrieved from EBSCO MegaFILE database.

22. Evaluating Sources What does it matter where I find it, as long as I get the information? Remember the shopping analogy? There are also quality issues.

23. The Secrets of Sources Credible sources make your argument stronger Your teachers are watching! Your bosses will be watching !

24. Types of Sources Scholarly /Peer Reviewed/Academic materials vs. Trade /Professional Publications vs. Popular Sources Spectrum of credibility Not everything fits neatly into a category There are also other categories: consider Newspapers for instance

25. Scholarly/ Peer-Reviewed/Academic Characteristics : Scholarly communication Research findings Always cites sources Few illustrations

26. Trade/Professional Characteristics : For workers in a specific field Written by professionals for professionals Purpose: keep reader’s updated “ how to” Usually numerous illustrations

27. Popular Characteristics : Readers = general public Written by journalists/editors to inform or entertain Rarely cites sources Many illustrations and ads – “glossy”

28. What do you think? Family Practice Management New England Journal of Medicine Health

29. How to evaluate a website?

30. Finding Respectable Websites Who is backing/endorsing/publishing/writing the information? Why? Selling stuff? Joke? To inform? To entertain? Fair? Balanced? Objective? How does it compare ? Can you trust the information? How? Does the website cite its sources? Explain its research? Anything?

31. Website Evaluation Compare Check the info against something else Corroborate Check enough sources to get the whole story Confirm, verify Context Does the context of the website affect the information?

32. Where to look? For news about the recent outbreaks of swine flu. For research about the effects of second hand smoke For historical information about earthquakes in California For opinions about health care reform in the U.S.

33. In conclusion… Exploratory research = Explore! Focused research = “ shop ” and trial & error What sort of info do you want? Overview? In-depth? Statistics? Scholarly? Popular? Trade? Book? Article? Recent? Historical? What type of searching? What keywords/subjects? Where will you look? Databases? Which one? Library catalog for books? Websites? Which search engine? Not successful? Ask a librarian or try a new strategy.

34. Questions? Comments? Contact the Online Librarian : Elaine Settergren [email_address] http://www.globeeducationnetwork.com/library/