Using the Library
Getting Started with Research
(CPE 071)
 

Before you start:

If you are doing this from home, be sure that you log in on the OhioLINK (www.ohiolink.edu) home page before using any of the OhioLINK databases. You'll need to use the following OhioLINK resources:


You'll need an up-to-date barcode. Check with the library staff to see that your record is current. For any questions, or help with this assignment, call (937) 328-6022 or email a reference librarian at: libraryhelp@clarkstate.edu.


1. Does Clark State own any books by a favorite author of yours? if so, list the title of one.

  • From the Clark State library's home page, click Catalogs.
  • Select "Search our Catalog" under LOIS.
  • Choose the author option and click on it. Enter your chosen author’s name.
  • If we have a book by your author, its record will appear. (Notice that you generally don't have to capitalize and punctuate.)


2. Name an OhioLINK library, which has books by or about your author.

  • Click on Home. This time, when you click on Catalogs, select Search OhioLINK Library Catalog. The OhioLINK Library Catalog lists all the books and audiovisuals in 80 Ohio college libraries.
  • Select Author and repeat the process in question 1.
  • When you get the browse screen, click on your author’s name.
  • Choose the first book. Click on it to see the whole record. Click on Check Availability.
  • Write down the name of one of the college libraries that owns this book.

For the next few questions you will be using OhioLINK databases.


3. Look up some biographical information on the author (use Contemporary Authors). Could you find enough information to write a two-page article on your author? List something about him or her from this article.

  • From the Catalogs button or the Articles button click on OhioLINK Home Page. Notice the link to Explore OhioLINK Databases by Name.
  • Drag your mouse to it. Drag across the page and click on "C" for Contemporary Authors. This database gives you biographical information about authors.
  • When you get a form with boxes, enter your author’s name (last name first, then first name) in the first box and click on Search. Sometimes this takes a minute.


4. Use the Academic Search Premier (ASP) database. Look up a person you’d like more information on (famous or infamous) as a subject or default field (not as an author).

  • Academic Search Premier (ASP) is located on the My Express Links page or in the Explore OhioLINK Databases by Name list. In the search box type: your choice (first name first then last name) and review. Click search.
  • Select an article from the resulting list. The citation (listing) will give you all of the bibliographic information about the article: who wrote it, what magazine it appears in, date, etc. It will also tell you that you can get the full text, and/or page image, or it will offer to have "OLinks find a copy." The full text and page image are copies of the actual article.
  • Click "OLinks find a copy." This will tell you what library has the periodical that this article is in. In some cases OLinks will also connect you to a copy in another database.


a. Write the title of an article about this person.
b. Is the magazine or journal available at Clark State?
c. Is the full text available in ASP?


5. Still using Academic Search Premier, search by subject--either use the Subjects tab or use the drop-down menu under default fields, and find an article on a topic of interest to you.

 

a. What is the title of the article?
b. Is the full text available in ASP?

  • Type YOUR TOPIC in the search box. If you chose the drop-down menu, your results will appear when you click search. Choose an article from this first page and write down the title. If the full-text is available, an HTML Full-Text or PDF Full-Text link will be on the screen. If the full-text is not available, then an OLinks Find a Copy button will be there.


6. Go to the Librarian’s Index to the Internet at lii.org. Type in a topic of interest to you (think of broad subjects).

  • What is your subject?
  • What is a website that is listed for your topic? (Write the web address here.)


7. Go to the Library’s page on evaluating information at: lib2.clarkstate.edu > How Do I? > Help Using the Online Library > Critical Evaluation of Sources. Read over the bulleted items and choose one.

  • What is the item you chose?
  • Why is it important to evaluate the information you use?
For help, call 328-6022 or check out the library’s website at lib2.clarkstate.edu

Updated: 21 September 2004