This document outlines a library orientation presentation on research basics at Towson University's Cook Library. It introduces Laksamee Putnam as the research and instruction librarian and provides an overview of the library's resources including 600,000 books, 150,000 e-books, 200 databases, and 50,000 e-journals. The presentation covers evaluating information sources, developing search strategies, searching the library catalog and databases, and provides examples of researching viral videos. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions of Putnam or other reference librarians.

1. L A K S A M E E P U T N A M
L P U T N A M @ T O W S O N . E D U
R E S E A R C H A N D I N S T R U C T I O N L I B R A R I A N
TOPS Orientation – Library and
Research Basics
Please login to the computer, then open a browser and go to:
http://slidesha.re/16eyt35

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 http://slidesha.re/16eyt35

3. Take away…
 Where are you?
 Search strategies and Search tips
 Evaluate the information
 Finding books/articles in the Cook Library
 Viral Video Research

4. Where are you?
 600,000 Books
 150,000 e-Books
 1,200 Print Journals
 200 Electronic
Databases
 50,000 Electronic
Journals
 200 computers
 Print here

5. Where do you go to find answers?
http://bit.ly/upwardpollsu13

6. Evaluate
 Check for CRAP
 Currency
 Reliability
 Authority
 Purpose/Point of View
 Examples
 Pacific Northwest Tree
Octopus
 Vaccines and Autism

7. Preparing to Search
 Articulate your topic
 Choose important ideas
 Identify keywords
 Find background
information
 Reference books
 Websites
 Gather, organize and
narrow it down http://youtu.be/HE4FJL2IDEs

8. Search Tips
 Boolean “search connectors”
 Mammals AND Evolution
 Climate Change OR Global warming

9. Search Tips
 Similar ideas … different
words
 Phone
 Cellphone
 Cell phone
 Cellular telephone
 Wireless phone
 Mobile
 Smartphone
 Truncation
 Technolog*
 Technolog-y
 Technolog-ist
 Technolog-ical
 Technolog-ically

10. Searching the
Catalog
Cook Library
Research
Library Catalogs
 Location
 Call number
 Library Map
 Other locations
 Reserves
 Interlibrary loan (Illiad)
 Request

11. Searching
Databases
Cook Library
Subject Gateways
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
MB3
etc
 Peer-reviewed articles in multiple
journals
 Journals
 Towson: 235 journals with the word
Biology in the title
 Databases
 Cook OneSearch
 ScienceDirect
 Scopus

12. Viral Video Research
 View a list of the possible videos here:
http://bit.ly/1bc5zjm
 After choosing a video research it in the same way we
did for “Charlie Bit My Finger”
 Fill out the form here while researching your video:
http://bit.ly/173i4Q7
 Extra time? Fill out the form for another video!

13. Feedback form!
 http://bit.ly/1bcehOB

14. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat