I. Open vs Hidden Web II. Inquiry through language and keyword searching III. Introduction to Databases

1. library research as
strategic exploration
sam alfrey, research and instruction librarian

3. AN OVERVIEW
Today’s session will be broken into three major
parts. We will be practicing the ideas that we talk
about, and questions are encouraged at any point!
01
CONTEXT
02
LANGUAGE
03
DATABASES
Can I just google everything
all the time?
The words and phrases you
search for determine the
results of the search
How to access, how to narrow
your search, and how to use
what you find

4. 01
CONTEXT
*information
literacy

5. what is a database?

7. IS WARDMAN
LIBRARY
BETTER THAN
GOOGLE?

8. determine information needed
access that information
evaluate information and
sources
add information to
your knowledge
base and use it for
a purpose
understand legal and
ethical implications of
obtaining and using
information
*information
literacy

9. 02
LANGUAGE

11. broader terms
related words
narrower terms synonyms
*election

12. NOT A SOURCE
BUT, IT IS STILL
NOT A SOURCE

13. scholarly source

14. believable source

15. credible source
authority
accuracy

16. credible source
who is the author?
when was the source published?
can the information be verified?
does the website URL have .com, .gov,. Edu?
does the article have any grammatical or
spelling errors?
why is the author writing this?

17. peer review

18. WHITTIER.EDU
/LIBRARY

29. how to access academic
journals, narrow your search,
and use what you find
*searching as
strategic
exploration
03
DATABASES

30. mental flexibility and
creativity
understand first results
are not always adequate!
not all information sources will be
relevant to your question
seek guidance of experts,
such as librarians and
research professionals
recognize the value of
browsing!
*searching as
strategic
exploration

31. WHITTIER.EDU/LIBRARY

36. Term A: “Presidential election”
Term B: Females

37. abstract

38. abstract only

39. citation database
No full-text or PDF option on the page
Does not redirect to a ebsite with a
full-text or PDF option
Check scholar.google.com to see
if its on the open web
Submit an Interlibrary Loan
Request on the library website

40. STRATEGIC
SEARCHING
EXERCISE
Who is the real
Hillary Clinton?