Tentative Schedule (Winter 2012)
Class time: Mondays 9:00 - 11:50 am, Rm. 3-01 or 205A (lab),
Rutherford South
Textbook: Bell, Suzanne. S. (2009). Librarian's Guide to Online Searching,
2nd Edition. Libraries Unlimited.
January 9
- Introduction
- Readings: None
January 16
- Topics
- Database structure; Information retrieval overview
- The searcher's toolkit part 1
- Bibliographic databases (OPACs)
- Readings:
- Chapters 1, 2, & 6
- Humboldt State University Library. Search strategy worksheet.
January 23
- Topics
- Digital reference - What is the difference?
- The searcher's toolkit part 2
- Social science databases
- Readings:
- Chapters 3 & 4
- Berube, L. (2003). Digital
reference
overview.
- Lindbloom, M., Yackle, A., Burhans, S., Peters, T. & Bell, L. (2006). Virtual reference: A reference question is a reference question . . . or is virtual reference a new reality? New career opportunities for librarians. The Reference Librarian 45(93), 3-22. - SR
- Desai, C.M. & Graves, S.J. (2008). Cyberspace or face-to-face: The teachable moment and changing reference mediums. Reference & User Services Quarterly 47(3), 242-254. - SR
- Janes, J. & Silverstein, J. (2003). Question negotiation and the technological environment. D-Lib Magazine 9(2) (February). - SR
- Penka, J. T. (2003). The technological challenges of digital reference: An overview. D-Lib Magazine 9(2) (February). - SR
January 30
- Topic
- Ask A Question (AAQ) Training (including Managing AAQ ) by Stacey Bissell, The Alberta Library
- Readings:
- Assignment due:
Comparison of search techniques
February 6
- Topics
- Value-added reference services: from searching to discovery
- Citation indexing and searching;
- Citation databases
- Digital reference - Opportunities and practices
- Readings:
- Chapter 5 (Web of Science and the citation
indexes)
- Garfield, E. (1964). Science citation index: A new dimension in indexing. Science, 144, 649-654.
- Tenopir, C. (2001a). The power of citation
searching. Library Journal, 126(18),
39-40.
- McVeigh, M.E. (2010). Citation indexes and the Web of Science. In Bates, M.J. (Ed). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science (pp. 1027-1037). CRC Press.
- The
Thomson Reuters Journal Selection Process
- Student readings
- Dee, C. R. (2005). Digital reference service: Trends in academic health science libraries. Medical Reference Services Quarterly 24(1), 19-27. - SR
- Kern, Kathleen M. Chat it up! Extending reference services to assist off-campus students. Journal of Library Administration. 41(1/2), 217-226. - SR
February 13
- Continue last week's topics;
- Readings:
- Jacsó, P. (2005) Google Scholar: the pros and the cons, Online Information Review, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 208-214.
- Bosman, J, Mourik, I. van, Rasch, M.; Sieverts, E., Verhoeff, H. (2006) Scopus reviewed and compared. The coverage and functionality of the citation database Scopus, including comparisons with Web of Science and Google Scholar, Utrecht: Utrecht University Library.
- Falagas, M. E., Pitsouni, E. I., Malietzis, G. A., & Pappas, G. (2008). Comparison of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: Strengths and weaknesses. The FASEB Journal, 22, 338-342.
- Jacsó, P. (2005). As we may search – Comparison of major features of the web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar citation-based and citation-enhanced databases. Current Science, 89(9), 1537-1547.
- Student readings
- Forster, S. (2006). Using instant messaging for online reference service. The Australian Library Journal 55(2), 147-158. - SR
- Jensen, B. (2004). The case for non-intrusive research: a virtual reference librarians’ perspective. The Reference Librarian 85, 139-149. - SR
- Assignment due: AAQ1
February 20
- No class - Statutory Provincial holiday; University buildings closed
February 27
- Topics
- Digital reference - Interpersonal communication
- Databases for science and medicine
- Guest Speaker: Linda Slater on Health Sciences Databases (9:00am)
- Readings:
- Chapter 5 (MEDLINE and PubMed)
- Silverstein, J. (2005). Just curious: Children’s use of digital reference for unimposed queries and its importance in informal education. Library Trends. 54(2), 228-244. - SR
- Radford, M. L. (2005). Encountering virtual users: A qualitative investigation of interpersonal communication in chat reference. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 57(8), 1046-1059. - SR
- Kwon, N. & Gregory, V.L. (2007). The effects of librarians' behavioral performance on user satisfaction in chat reference services. Reference & User Services Quarterly 47(2), 137-148. - SR
- Lankes, R.D. (2005). Digital reference research: Fusing research and practice. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 44(4), 320-326. - SR
- Assignment due: Citation databases and their application in reference services
March 5
- Topics
- Digital reference - Issues and management
- Humanities databases;
- Guest Speaker: Lisa-Jane Watson on Using EBSCO Host (9:00am)
- Readings:
- Chapter 7
- Neuhaus, P. (2003). Privacy and confidentiality in digital reference. Reference & User Services Quarterly. 43(1), 26-36. - SR
- Shachaf, P., & Horowitz, S.M. (2008). Virtual reference service evaluation: Adherence to RUSA behavioral guidelines and IFLA digital reference guidelines. Library & Information Science Research, 30, 122-127. - SR
- Ciccone, K., & VanScoy, A. (2003). Managing an established virtual reference service.” Internet Reference Services Quarterly 8(1/2): 95-105. - SR
- Assignment due: AAQ2
March 12
- Topics
- Numberical databases
- User dimension of IR systems
- Guest Speaker: Chuck Humphrey on Accessing data (9:00am)
- Readings:
- Chapters 8 & 9
March 19
- Topics
- Evaluation of databases
- Law databases
- Guest Speaker: Wanda Quoika-Stanka on Law Databases (10:30am)
- Readings:
- Chapters 10 & 11
- RUSA.
Business Reference and Services Section. (Winter 2001). Guidelines for
medical, legal, and business information service responses. Reference
and User Services Quarterly 41(2): 111-13.
- Assignment due: AAQ3
March 26
- Topic
- Databases for business information
- Web searching
- Retrieval of information unique in content or format
- Guest speaker: Kathy West on Business Information (9:00am)
- Readings:
- Felter, L.M. (2005). The Better Mousetrap: Google Scholar, Scirus, and the Scholarly Search Revolution. Searcher 13(2), 42-48.
- SEOmoz
Search Engine Ranking Factors
- Dodging
Google sheriff
- Google AdWords info and tutorials
- Google family search tools
- Assignment due: Comparison of databases
April 2
- Topics
- Patent literature
- Government documents
- Issues and trends
- Guest Speakers:
- Sandy Campbell on Accessing Patent Literature (9:00am)
- Amanda Wakaruk on Accessing Government documents (10:30am)
- Readings:
- Chapter 12
- Taylor, A. (2005). Patent searchers. Searcher. 13(3): 28-33.
- Tenopir, C., Baker, G., & Grogg, J. (2010). Database Marketplace 2010: Feast and Famine. Library Journal, 05/15/2010.
- Guz, S.S. (2011). Best Databases 2011: Librarians Decide Which Databases Make the Grade. Library Journal, 12/ 07/2011.
April 9
- No class - Easter Monday
- Assignment due: Reference work using multiple digital IR
systems (April 10)