Library Research Skills

Los Angeles Harbor College

Tamar Khajadourian

khajadtr@lahc.edu

Library Collection

• Books: 2nd Floor- circulating, 2 weeks & 1 renewal

• Reference Sources: 1st Floor- library use only

• Reserves: 1st floor, Circulation Desk- 2 hr. checkout- library use only

• Periodicals: 2nd Floor- reading room

Library Collection

• EBooks: 24/7- online access

• Databases: EBSCO, Gale, LexisNexis, … - online

• No Food or Drinks: (besides the 1st floor entry lobby)

• Quiet Study Area: 2nd floor, text for complaints

• LAHC Library: http://

www.lahc.edu/library/index.html

• Learning Resource Center

• Library Workshop Link

• 27/7 Librarian Chat

• Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl

/

• EasyBib: http://www.easybib.com/

Resources

Be Present

Exercise

Working with a partner, write down one thing you researched in the past month:

•Research question: topic/subject of research

•Method: step by step breakdown of sources used

•Conclusion: answer to your research question

Common Research

Information Literacy

• WHAT: Analyzing and interpreting the topic

• HOW: Brainstorming before doing research

• WHERE: Evaluating sources and collected materials

Research Topic

<invention, trend, discovery, breakthrough, innovation>

Genetically Modified Organisms

GMOs

Types of Sources

Primary: a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.

• ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS: Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records 

• CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art 

• RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

Types of Sources

Secondary: interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them.

• PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias 

• Basic Search

• Advanced Search

• Call Number

• Copies

• Availability

• Location

• Other LACCD Colleges

Library Catalog

Genetically Modified Food

HD Industries, Land Use, Labor

HV Social and Public Welfare

RA Public Aspects of Medicine

SB Plant Culture

TP Chemical Technology

TX Home Economics, Nutrition, Food & Food Supply

Library of Congress Classification

Periodicals: Databases

Academic Search Premier

CQ Researcher

EBSCO Host

MasterFILE Premier

MA S Ultra School Edition

Newspaper Source Plus

Professional Development

Gale Virtual Reference

Searching Tips

• Advanced Search: exact search terms, language tools, file format, time period, numeric range, domain, website...

• Boolean Operators: AND (+), OR, NOT (-)• AND & NOT: narrows search results

• OR: broadens search results

• GMO’s and California

• GMO’s not California

• Food and Genetically Modified Organisms or Genetically Engineered Crops

• Correct Spelling: Capitalize proper nouns; e.g., Spring will generate different results than spring.

Searching Tips• Keyword Searching: list keywords and synonyms that

describe your concepts and topics. Child, minor, infant…

• Phrase Searching: put quotation marks around phrases you want to see together; e.g., “higher education”.

• Prepare: maximize your time spent online, analyze your question to pinpoint concepts.

• Search More Than One: Use at least two sources for your research.

• Truncation: *?! allows you to search words with the same root, which in turn broadens search results; e.g., music* finds: musical, musician, musicians, and musicality.

Internet Search Engines

Searching Tips

•Domain Name: • .edu = educational

• .com = commercial

• .mil = military

• .gov = government

• .org = nonprofit

• .int = international

•File type: specific type e.g., education : pdf

•Instructions: read the search engine and database instructions-- each search tool has its own set of tips for simple and advanced searching.

Evaluating Internet Sources

Authority Content

Affiliation Audience

Purpose Currency

Objectivity Design

Brainology