AH115 Library Pathfinder

Catalog | EBSCOhost | Internet

This pathfinder will help you to learn some basic information sources. It is designed to be used with the "Library Exploration" assignment and will help you answer the questions on the handout.

Part I: the Online Catalog

In the first part of the tutorial, you will learn to use the Chemeketa online catalog to find books.

The online catalog lets you search by keyword, author, title, or subject on its main search page. The page is preset to search by keywords; pulling down the keyword list lets you choose other options. The catalog covers all 18 libraries in the CCRLS group; you can choose to search all libraries, or a particular library, such as Chemeketa.

                     Fig. 1: Search page

You can put a search word or phrase in the space, and click the Submit button to find items. In Figure 1 we have combined two ideas together with the word "and."

                Genetically modified AND food

finds any book that has the word "food" and the phrase "genetically modified" somewhere in the description.

When you click Submit or press the ENTER key, the catalog will display a list of items that match your search. Clicking on a title will show you more information about that item.

                     Fig. 2: Item information

Underneath the author (if any) and title of the item is the publication information, with the place of publication, name of the publisher, and date. This screen will tell you which libraries have copies of the item. If an item has CCC under Location, it is owned by the Chemeketa Community College library. This screen also includes the Dewey Decimal Call Number that indicates where the item is located on the shelf. If an item is checked out, the due date will be shown under Status.

To start the online catalog exercise, click on the link below. Use the catalog to do the searches described in questions 1 and 2 of your Library Exploration assignment. When you have finished answering questions 1 and 2, close the catalog window to return to this pathfinder.

Start the online catalog exercise.

Part II: EBSCOhost searching

In this section of the tutorial, you will use an EBSCOhost database to look for periodical (magazine and journal) articles. EBSCOhost is a database service with many individual databases. The databases index periodical articles, provide summaries, and often have complete articles available in electronic form.

When you click on the "Start the EBSCOhost Exercise" link below, a catalog session will open for you in a new window. Instructions will appear in a shaded area at the top of the screen. They will take you through exercises that are part of the assignment.

Have your handout ready to fill in the answers. When you have finished each instruction, you can continue by clicking on the arrow marked "More."

The EBSCOhost database you will use for this tutorial is Health Source Nursing/Academic. If you are on campus, the first EBSCOhost link below will take you directly into the database. If you are off campus, you will be asked for your My Chemeketa username and password.

       TIPS

• You can always return to this pathfinder simply by closing the browser window.
• Allow a few moments for the EBSCOhost screen to respond. Sometimes it may take several seconds to download.
• If you do not find any results in a search, check your spelling.
• !!! Don't forget to click the "More" arrow in the shaded area at the top of the screen once you have completed each set of instructions. They will take you step by step through your handout.

Start the EBSCOhost exercise

Part III: Internet Searching

A: Evaluating Internet Sources

Please study the three criteria for evaluating Internet sources, listed below.

Important considerations for evaluating information sources include:

1. Authorship 
   • Who wrote the document?
   • Is there information about the author's qualifications for writing about this topic? (Education, experience, position?)
   • What organization provides the information?
2. Objectivity  
   • What appears to be the purpose for publishing this information?
   • Does what you know about the organization suggest a bias?
3. Accuracy and Currency
   • When was this document created or last updated?
   • Are there errors in spelling and/or grammar?
   • Can you spot any errors of fact?
   • Does the document list the sources of its information?

Below are two Web sites to examine. Please look over the sites with the above criteria in mind. Then return to this page by using the "Back" button on your browser.

Do you think the information presented is reliable? Would you use any of it for an assignment? Would you use the services offered by one or both of these sites?

B: Internet Project from Library Exploration Handout

Below for your convenience is a table with the Internet sites on page 4 of your Library Exploration handout. You may use them to fill in the answers on your Internet Project. Two sites are especially useful. Healthfinder is a searchable directory of Web sites pertaining to health. You could, for example, type in "insurance" and get a list of links to health insurance sites. MedlinePlus also has a search engine. Both are U.S. government sites providing reliable health information.

Updated:
Comments: reference@chemeketa.edu or call (503)399-5231.
Address of this page: http://newterra.chemeketa.edu/library/instruction/handouts/AH112/