TOPS library session

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://bit.ly/tops2016library

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Research Help:
 Call: 410.704.2462.
 Text: 410.774.1398.
 Chat: 24/7
 Email us questions
 Slides: http://bit.ly/tops2016library

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

4. Where are you?
 700,000 Books
 280,000 e-Books
 1,200 Print Journals
 236 Electronic Databases
 50,000 Electronic
Journals
 200 computers
 Print here
 Lab books here

5. Books? Really?

6. Where do you go to find answers?

7. Preparing to Search
 Articulate your topic
 Choose important ideas
 Identify keywords
 Find background
information
 Reference books
 Websites
 Gather, organize and
narrow it down Types of Scientific Evidence

8. Evaluate
 Check for CRAAP
 Currency
 Relevance
 Authority
 Accuracy
 Purpose
 Spotting Bad Science
 Examples
 Pacific Northwest Tree
Octopus
 Vaccines and Autism

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

10. Searching
Databases
Cook Library
Subject Guides
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
MB3
etc
 Peer-reviewed articles in multiple
journals
 Journals
 Towson: 296 journals with the word
Biology in the title
 Databases
 Cook OneSearch
 ScienceDirect
 Scopus

11. Library Scavenger Hunt
 Each table is a group!
 Make sure someone in your group has a smart
phone!
 Complete the worksheet directions while exploring
the library
 Return to class and view your pictures

12. Research Forensics etc.
 Take a look through a few of the books in the
classroom
 Start your research on forensic science
 Search Cook OneSearch
 Ask the librarian for help!

13. Thank you!

14. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 Call: 410.704.2462.
 Text: 410.774.1398.
 Chat: 24/7
 Email us questions