Author Archives: Ives

If I were to select three of the most helpful things that I’ve learned throughout the course, I believe that it would have to be:

• Basic Searches — using AND/OR, quotation marks, parentheses, the asterisk (*), etc.
• Finding sources using various keywords, databases, etc.
• Creating a research question and further developing the question into a more specific question.

Basic Searches are crucial in terms of using a search engine because they basically inform the search engine what to sort out/find for the user.  I find it to be important because prior to my findings in this class, I had no clue that simple words like “and/or” would make a difference in a simple search.

Finding sources helped me in the sense that it taught me that there were multiple resources available to me now that I’m a college student (i.e. databases, keywords, etc.).  It helped me realize that you don’t have to specifically search for information directly on your topic, but you can research on topics relating to your topic.

Creating a research question feels critical to me for future research papers and other projects to come.

I wish that we had spent more time on evaluating sources for how authoritative the author is, the quality of the research/material presented in the articles, and the relevance to our research questions and how to apply them to our work.

• “Google Rolls Out Search Product for Scholars”. Reuters News (2004). Factiva. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.

• Chillingworth, Mark. “Google Unveils Beta Scholar.” Information World Review 208 (2004): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.

• “Google Launches Google Scholar.” Advanced Technology Libraries 33.12 (2004): 1, 11. Library Lit & Inf Full Text. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.

• Malcolm, Shannon L. The Next Big Thing?: Google Scholar and Legal Scholarship. , 2005. Print. WorldCat.

InfoShare

InfoShare is a database that specializes in  gathering information pertaining social aspects of life on a statistical level.
It’s used to create tables consisting of numerical data, displaying the various categories in which the user wishes to preview.  From the tabs shown in the database, the user is able to compare various areas in not only New York City but other cities in other states as well.
You’ll be able to view the Census from a range of years and be able to gather information accordingly.
There isn’t any usage of controlled vocabulary in InfoShare however there are various categories in which the user can select in hopes to find what they’re looking for.
There are a couple of things that have surprised me by exploring via InfoShare:

1. The availability of federal government data (i.e. Census) to the public or academic scholars
2. The precision of the numerical values and specific categories that the databases provides

WorldCat
Combines the library catalogs of 9000 libraries. Includes more than 67 million items. If a book was ever published, chances are it’s listed in here.
The WorldCat database provides insight to millions of books and other pieces of literature and allows the users to browse through various formats (i.e. large print, braille, manuscript, microform, audio, VHS, DVD, etc.).
Using WorldCat, you’re more likely to find books and other pieces of literature in various formats listed above.
There is controlled vocabulary in the sense that a drop-list is provided so that you’re able to select the category that best fits the word/phrase that you typed into the search box.
I’ve noticed how interesting WorldCat allows you to limit your search type to certain formats as well as the type of audience and the type of content (i.e. Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc.).  I also thought that it was interesting how there’s a specific CUNY libraries drop-box as well a “Library Code” search box to specifically locate the OCLC.

Using the CUNY Library catalog, you can find various things such as:

• Variations of a certain book
• Where the books are being held
• The type of format that it’s in – whether it be books, sound recordings, DVDs, etc.
• Subjects that are included within the book
• The details of a book: publisher, year, status, call number, table of contents, author bio, etc.

Things that you can’t find consists of:

• Themes in book?

Title: The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare ; edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
Call Number: PR2831 .A2 M68 2004
Location: Lehman College
Status: Reserve Loan