The librarian gave an introductory presentation to first year students on how to conduct research using the library's resources. [1] The presentation covered distinguishing between scholarly journals and popular magazines, identifying keywords, constructing search strategies using Boolean operators and truncation, searching the library catalog and databases like Academic OneFile and Wilson Select to find relevant articles. [2] Hands-on activities had students practice these skills by developing their own keyword searches and searching the databases. [3] The goal was to teach students the basic search methods needed to effectively find resources for their research projects.

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I. Introduction (lecture)
a. Pass out handout (at the door?)
b. “Why are we here?”
i. “Good Afternoon class. My name is Barb Shipman and I am a librarian here at
Kresge library. Your professor has informed me that you are in the process of
writing a research project. This might be the first time many of you have
stepped foot in a library or used our library catalog and article databases. Since
a majority of you are first year students, I’m going to cover the very basic search
methods. I hope you will be able to conduct an effective search that will help
you search for resources to use for your research project.
II. Goals & Objectives (lecture)
a. “What am I going to do?”
b. PowerPoint presentation
III. Library Web Site / Additional Services (lecture/demonstration)
a. Overview of the library’s main features (Demo function)
b. Writing Center/Information Commons
IV. Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazine-before we begin searching for materials we need to
understand the difference between scholarly journals and popular magazines.
a. Explain the need to know the difference between the two periodicals.
b. Activity – Hand each row of students a scholarly or popular magazine. Have them identify
main characteristics of each. Write the characteristics of each periodical on the white board.
V. Keywords
a. Ask the class what are keywords? Definition: are words or phrases that identify major
concepts within the topic.
b. Select a research topic (my own “global warming” or students). Write topic on the
whiteboard.
c. Activity – have students brainstorm and come up with 3-4 keyword terms for my research
topic.
d. Explain to the students how I will incorporate the keyword terms into my keyword search
strategy (demonstration).
e. Brainstorming Activity Handout -- Have students generate 3-4 keyword concepts within
their topic.
VI. Keyword Search Concepts (Strategy) – Before we begin to search the library’s catalog and article
databases, I will go over a few search strategies that will help you find (relevant) articles for your
research project.
a. Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT). We will use the Boolean Operator, “AND” since this is
a basic (keyword) search class. “AND” narrows your search by connecting two or more
keywords. Example: global warming and recycling
b. Truncation -- (Asterisk*****) or (Exclamation ! for the library catalog) – use an asterisk to
search for multiple endings of a word.
Example: global warming and recyc*
c. Phrase Searching – use quotation marks around keywords to find the exact phrase.
Example: “global warming” and recycling or recyc*
d. Brainstorming Activity Handout – Have students complete handout by creating three
search
strategies.

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VII. Library Catalog (Demo Function)-- Let’s use your search strategies to look for materials located in
the library. Mention how articles cannot be searched in the Library Catalog.
a. Conduct a “All Fields –Relevance Keyword” search using my keywords “global warming” and
recycling
b. Select a record that pertains to my research topic.
c. Explain the main features of a bibliographic record. (Title, Author, Date, T.O.C., Call #, etc.)
d. Keyword Searching in the Library Catalog Activity (BlUE HANDOUT) – Have students
perform “All Fields – Relevance Keyword” search using one of the search strategies they have
created.
VIII. Academic Onefile -- Explain how to get to article databases. What is Academic OneFile?
Academic OneFile. (Demo On)
a. Mention the features of Academic OneFile before conducting a search.
b. Conduct a search using the keywords, global warming (with no Boolean operators). Show the
number of results retrieved. Emphasize the importance of narrowing your search.
c. Conduct a search using my search strategy, “global warming” and recyc*. Show how the
number of results decreased.
d. Select a record with full-text. Go over the main features of an (Scholarly? )article’s
bibliographic record (HTML vs. PDF, e-mail, print and download).
e. Select a (Non-Scholarly) record with no full-text. Select a record that is available through
another database. Show students how to locate the article. Explain the function of the “Get It”
link.
f. Scholarly Articles in Academic OneFile Activity (Orange Handout)—(Stop Demo Function)
Have students perform a search using one of their keyword search strategies. REMIND
STUDENTS THAT THEY CAN PRINT THEIR ARTICLES FOR FREE!!!!!!!!!!
VIIII. Wilson Select Plus –[First Search platform] -- (Demo On) Explain the main features of the First
Search platform (You can access up to 3 databases at a time).
a. Explain why I chosen Wilson Select Plus first.
b. Conduct a search using my final keyword search strategy, “global warming” and recyc*
c. Show the number of results retrieved. Select a record (Scholarly?) with full-text. Go over the
main features of an article’s bibliographic record. (HTML vs. PDF, e-mail, print, download).
d. Select a record with no full-text but the journal is available in print at the library.
e. Explain how the students can select another database available in First Search.
f. Finding Articles in First Search Activity –(Yellow Handout)(Stop Demo Function). Have
students perform a search using their keyword search strategies in Wilson Select Plus and a
database of their choice.
Have them fill out the information on the handout.
X. Wrap it up!!!!!
a. Summarize what the students learned and how their new skills will help them identify
scholarly articles for their research project.
 You can distinguish the difference between scholarly journals and popular magazines.
 You can identify keyword concepts.
 You can create search strategies using Boolean Operator, Truncation, and Phrase
Searching.
 You can search for materials available in the library
 You can search for articles in the Academic OneFile database.
 You can search for articles in the First Search platform (Wilson Select and database of
your choice.

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