This document outlines an agenda for a library instruction session on investigating databases, journals, and articles. It includes sections on discussing bad science, exploring subject specific databases relevant to environmental science, investigating the author submission requirements and structure of assigned journals in small groups, analyzing research articles from those journals, and finding citation metrics for the articles in databases like Google Scholar and Scopus. The document provides resources and contact information for the research and instruction librarian Laksamee Putnam for any questions.

1. Laksamee Putnam
Research & instruction Librarian
lputnam@towson.edu
10/12/2015

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook facebook profile!
 Slides: http://bit.ly/envs601fa2015

3. Agenda
 Bad Science – Discussion
 Investigating Databases, Journals, and Articles

4. Science isn’t broken

5. Subject Specific Databases
 Which databases are you familiar with?
 Remember to check the ENVS Subject Gateway
 Which words find the best results? Synonyms?
 Is there an advanced search?
 Can you access full text?
 What features of the databases are useful? (time limit,
peer reviewed option, citations etc.)

6. Investigating Journals
 Small groups will investigate author submission
requirements for their assigned journal
 Use the worksheet as a guideline
 Small groups will report/discuss their findings in 15
minutes
 Use this website to start investigating your journal:
https://www.journalguide.com/

7. Investigating Journals
 Environmental Science & Technology
 Chemical Geology
 Water, Air and Soil Pollution
 Advances in Water Resources
 Ecological Applications

8. Investigating Articles
 Does the library subscribe to your journal?
 Download a research article published in 2013 from
your journal

9. Investigating Articles
 Does your article follow the structure guidelines
required by the journal?
 How many references does your article list?

10. Investigating Articles
 Find you article in Google Scholar
 Find your article in Scopus
 How many times has your article been cited?

11. For your future research
 Consider where your information is coming from
 Cite your sources
 Use Mendeley!

12. Questions?
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu