This document provides an overview of training for public librarians and school library media specialists on using the ACCESS PA POWER Library electronic resource database. The training covers developing information literacy skills like defining information needs, selecting appropriate databases, and using databases efficiently. It also describes the types of databases in the POWER Library like bibliographic, full text, image, and combination databases. Search strategies and techniques are discussed, including using Boolean logic and field searching. Tips for effective searching like using quotation marks and truncation are also provided.

1. ACCESS PA POWER Library for Public Librarians & School Library Media Specialists

2. ACCESS PA POWER Library (Pennsylvania Online World of Electronic Resources) for Public Librarians & School Library Media Specialists ©Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2000 Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Commonwealth Libraries Bureau of Library Development Prepared by: Marilyn Parrish, Library Consultant Bonnie Popdan, West Shore School District Julie Straub, Ephrata Area School District Development of this workshop was funded by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries

3. POWER Library Resources AccuNet/AP Photo Archive EBSCOhost Searchasaurus SIRS Discoverer Today’s training includes:

4. The search for information in your library--developing information literacy skills Define the information need Select the database that matches the information need Use the databases efficiently and effectively Examine and extract relevant information from sources Synthesis & Evaluation

5. Information Literacy Requires The Searcher To: Identify possible sources Use a variety of sources Construct good searches Choose the best sources Analyze the validity of information Apply information to the solution of real problems

6. POWER Library Overview Types of databases in POWER Library Bibliographic ~ citations in EBSCOhost Full text ~ SIRS Discoverer Image ~ AP Photo Archive, EBSCOhost, SIRS Combination ~ EBSCOhost

7. For each database background, update schedule, audience search functions/strategies truncation, unique features exercises suggestions for use/lesson plans sharing results and strategies

8. Power Library Information Center http://www.powerlibrary.net/

9. To Report A POWER Library Technical Problem

10. Basic Searching Skills

11. What Is A Database? A collection of organized, related data Arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval Examples: telephone book, cookbook, address directory, organizer, ATM

12. Parts of A Database Record Each individual item (article, picture,graphic) in the database Field Each category of information, i.e. title, author, subject, summary or abstract, etc., within a record Need to know what fields are searched Some databases allow specific field searches: EBSCOhost, AP Photo Archive

13. Search Strategies Using the Power of Boolean Logic AND OR NOT

14. Boolean Logic : AND Narrows search by connecting parts of search statement Reduces number of hits Sample search in EBSCOhost: “ death penalty” and pennsylvania

15. Boolean Logic: OR Expands search Increases number of hits Examples: “ soviet union” or russia “ death penalty” or “capital punishment”

16. Boolean Logic: NOT Narrows search Fewer results Eliminates a specific term Example: marathon not boston

17. Types of Searches Keyword May search title, author, note or summary, text, subject fields Broad search Specialized field searches Searches specified field (s), i.e. subject, title, phototype Fast and target Controlled vocabulary Thank the indexer

18. Searching Hints Use quotes around phrases, i.e. “white house” Don’t use STOP words, i.e. a, an, the, and, or Spelling and typing count Use unique, specific terms Use truncation (wild cards) i.e. teen* Does database automatically search plurals? Don’t use capital letters unless appropriate Punctuation - hyphen, apostrophe Special options - search near or within # of words