Blended Services Training Programme

Feb. 18/10 — Nora Gaskin, Krista Godfrey, Andrew Colgoni

Content

• intro to Boolean logic
• use Boolean logic in databases and the library catalogue
• use print periodical indexes to find articles on a topic

Session Materials

• Presentation slides:
  • 1 slide per page: BST 12 Advanced Searching
  • 2 slides per page: BST 12 Advanced Searching 2
  • 3 slides per page: BST 12 Advanced Searching 3
• Handouts & Video:
  • video in presentation: U. of Auckland Library: Boolean Operators
    
  • BST 12 Advanced Searching Class Boolean Activity
  • BST 12 Advanced Searching Class Print Index Exercise

Homework:

• watch the video: USF Polytechnic Library: Boolean Searching
• do the tutorial: DOT@MAC Keyword Searching section
• read University of Queensland: Database Searching “How-to” Guide

Feb. 11/10 — Andrew Colgoni, Nora Gaskin, Krista Godfrey

Content

• introduction to controlled vocabulary
• Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
  • headings and subdivisions
  • how to find and use them:
    • keyword search to id. appropriate subject headings
    • to create new searches
    • to browse a list of subject headings
    • to find reference materials, primary sources, etc.
    • as facets in the library catalogue
• descriptors and thesauri in databases
  • broader, narrower & related terms
  • how to “explode” a descriptor
• hands-on application of what was covered above: activities
• citation searching, including incomplete or incorrect citations

Session Materials

• Presentation slides:
  • 1 slide per page: BST 11 Controlled Vocabulary & Citation Searching
  • 2 slides per page: BST 11 Controlled Vocabulary & Citation Searching
  • 3 slides per page: BST 11 Controlled Vocabulary & Citation Searching
• Handouts:
  • LCSH Subdivisions Handout
  • Primary Sources & Subdivisions Handout
  • Citation Finding Exercise
    

Homework

• do the assignment:
  • BST 11 Homework
  • BST 11 Homework Answers
• watch this video tutorial: Database Search Tips, Part 4: Subject Headings, from MIT Libraries

Supplementary Material

• Baker Library, Harvard Business School. Article Searching Tips