1. TOPS Orientation – Library and
Research Basics
LAKSAMEE PUTNAM
LPUTNAM@TOWSON.EDU
RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTION LIBRARIAN
Please login to the computer, then open a browser and go to:
http://bit.ly/TOPSslides2012

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

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

5. Where do you go to find answers?
http://bit.ly/TOPSpoll2012

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  Truncation
words  Technolog*
 Phone  Technolog-y
 Cellphone  Technolog-ist
 Cell phone  Technolog-ical
 Cellular telephone  Technolog-ically
 Wireless phone
 Mobile
 Smartphone

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

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

12. Viral Video Research
 View a list of the possible videos here:
http://bit.ly/TOPSviral2012
 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/TOPSws2012
 Extra time? Fill out the form for another video!

13. Feedback form!
 http://bit.ly/TOPSfeedback2012

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