Information Literacy Program

Module 2Accessing the Emalus Library Website

& Using the Online Catalogue

Emalus Campus

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Other ILP Modules

Module 1: Resources available @ the Emalus Campus Library

Module 2: Accessing the Emalus Library Website & Using the Online Catalogue

Module 3: Untangle the Web: Searching the Internet

Module 4: Critically Evaluating Information Sources

Module 5: Literature Search, Citing Sources & Bibliography

Module 6: Searching ProQuest

Emalus Campus

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• to highlight the main components of the Library website

• to demonstrate how to use the online catalogue

• to create an awareness of the Library’s online databases

Learning Objectives Emalus Campus

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Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session, students should be able to:

• navigate their way through the library website

• use the library catalogue to find relevant information

• locate online databases from the library website

Emalus Campus

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The Emalus Library Website Emalus Campus

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The Emalus LibraryCatalogue Emalus Campus

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Searching the Catalogue Search Options

• quick search

• title search

• author search

• subject search

• advanced search

• visual search

Search Modes

• keywords

• browse

• phrase

• exact

Emalus Campus

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Searching the Catalogue--Keyword

Keyword searching

Advantages:• searches the entire

catalogue data for the key words

→results no matter where key words are located in the catalogue data

Disadvantages:• spelling error• single/plural spelling• phrase not in the

catalogue record• variant spelling

Emalus Campus

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Variant Spelling e.g. utilize vs. utilise

organisation vs. organization

Library of Congress (LC) Subject Headings

• subject headings use American spelling of words rather than British spelling

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Searching the Catalogue-Visual Search Emalus Campus

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Searching the Catalogue-Visual Search Emalus Campus

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Searching the Catalogue Advanced Search Emalus Campus

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Boolean Operators • AND - the coloured area indicates those

items containing all the search terms

e.g. culture AND oceania AND art

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Boolean Operators

• OR – the coloured area indicates materials where any one of the terms are present

e.g. college OR university OR campus

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Boolean Operators

• NOT – locates results containing one search term but not another

e.g. Samoa Not American

*

Emalus Campus

AmericanSamoa

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Search Strategies – Boolean Operators• AND – narrows a search → less results

when you use two or more words together, AND is assumed so you

are automatically using the AND Boolean operator

• OR – broadens a search → increases results (remember OR is MORE)

• NOT – excludes information that you do not want included in the search results

be careful when using the Boolean operator NOT

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More Search Strategies

• Subject headings—use North American spelling of words

• Browsing (for example when searching for journals)

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The Emalus Library Website Emalus Campus

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The Emalus DigitalCollection Emalus Campus

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The Emalus LibraryDigital Collection Emalus Campus

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Tips for Effective Searching Write down each title/ author/call number

(this will save you time if you have to retrace your steps)

Keep track of the keywords and subjects you have searched

Consider the year of publication if you need more current information

Check the bibliographies of books and journals for additional information

Emalus Campus