A Guide to Library Research

1
A Guide to Library Research

• for Students Enrolled in the
• Information Technology
• Programs

2
Introduction

• The following presentation will show you how to
  access
• and use selective resources and online databases
• in Information Technology and
• aid you in your academic research.

3
Overview Learn how to

• Log-in to Keiser Universitys online library
  http//www.keiserlibrary.com
• Access databases for research in Information
  Technology and related subjects
• Access online resources in Information Technology
  (IT) by specific academic IT program
• Differentiate between primary and secondary
  research resources
• (For graduate students) locate dissertations and
  theses
• Locate APA Format guides

4
Getting Started

• How to log-in to the online
• KU Library
• _at_http//www.keiserlibrary.com
• Note You must log-in in order to access any
• of the databases

5
Getting Started
Enter Username and Password
STUDENTS Your USERNAME is your 6 or 7 digit
student ID number. Your PASSWORD is the last 4
digits of your Social Security (Federal Tax ID)
number. In a few instances where the last 4
digits of your SSN begins with a 0 you will need
to change the 0 to a number 1. If you are both an
Employee AND a Student, please use your Employee
log-in as described below.INTERNATIONAL/ONLINE
STUDENTS use the PIN number supplied to you by
the Registrar's office as your PASSWORD.EMPLOYEE
S To Log-in please use your first name (as it
appears on your paycheck) plus the last 4 digits
of your Social Security/Tax ID Number (together
without spaces) as your USERNAME, and your last
name (as it appears on your paycheck) as your
PASSWORD.
6
Using the KU Library OPAC for Print and
Audiovisual Resources Found on Campus

• The OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) is the
  orange section of the KU Library page, set above
  the large blue box.
• For items held at the Pembroke Pines campus
  library, locate Limit results for Library
  Catalogs, and then locate Scoping in to use
  the pull down menu to select Pembroke Pines. If
  you prefer to see what resources are available
  throughout the KU libraries system, or at any
  other campus location, select All Libraries or
  the name of another campus library on the pull
  down menu.
• Most items may be borrowed from any of the KU and
  Everglades libraries that are listed on the pull
  down menu list.
• Library resources may also be borrowed as from
  local FL libraries that are members of the
  Southeast Florida Library Information Network
  (SEFLIN), or any other local library consortium
  in Florida, where KU is a member, as needed.

7
Using the Library Databases (in the light blue
rectangle below the library catalog)

• Under KEISER UNIVERSITY DATABASES, you will find
  the following useful database links that allow
  you to search for articles
• The EBSCOhost BUSINESS, EDUCATION, MEDICINE,
  NURSING databases lets you select various
  subjects to include in your search.
• LIRN (Library Information Resources Network)
  Keiser University contains several useful
  databases that include Gale InfoTrac and
  ProQuest.

8
Useful Databases for Research in Information
Technology related subjects

• Within LIRN (Keiser University)
• Select Infotrac for these databases
• Academic Onefile, Expanded Academic ASAP,
  Business Index
• ASAP, Business Company Resource Center,
  Custom
• Newspapers and the Gale Computer
  Database.
• Select Proquest for these databases
• ABI/Inform Dateline, ABI/Inform Global,
  ABI/Inform Trade
• and Industry, and Proquest Research
  Library
• Within EBSCO
• Select EBSCOhost BUSINESS, EDUCATION, MEDICINE,
  NURSING for these databases
• BUSINESS SOURCE COMPLETE, Research
  Starters Business,
• Regional Business News.

9
Preliminary steps to research

• Determine what you are looking for.
• Primary or secondary resources?
• Scholarly or academic journal
  articles?
• Peer-reviewed articles?
• Popular magazine or newspaper
  articles?
• Put together your search strategy
• before you begin

10
How to differentiate between Primary and
Secondary Resources

• Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or
  direct evidence concerning a topic under
  investigation. These are created by witnesses or
  other individuals who experienced the events or
  conditions being documented.
• Primary sources are actual historical records.
  These differ from secondary sources, accounts or
  interpretations of events created by someone
  without firsthand experience.
• Often created at the time when the events or
  conditions are occurring, primary sources can
  also include autobiographies, memoirs, and oral
  histories recorded later.
• Primary sources are characterized by their
  content, regardless of whether they are available
  in original format, in microfilm/microfiche, in
  digital format, or in published format.

11
Examples of Primary Resources

• Autobiographies
• Diaries
• Documents
• Eyewitness accounts
• Film footage
• Laws
• Letters

• Newspaper articles
• Novels
• Objects from the time
• Oral histories
• Photographs
• Poems, art, music
• Speeches

12
Secondary Resources

• A secondary resource is
• An informational source that analyzes an
  event.
• These sources often use several primary
  sources to
• compile the information.
• A secondary source interprets and
  examines related 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.

13
Examples of secondary resources

• Secondary resources include textbooks, magazine
  articles, histories, biographies, criticisms,
  commentaries, and encyclopedias. 
• An academic journal or popular magazine article
  which interprets or reviews previous findings is
  another example of a secondary source.

 
14
Locating Graduate-level Dissertations and Theses

• Go to the Keiser University Library Splash page
  
• http//www.keiserlibrary.com
• You must sign in to access any of the databases.
• Go to the section in the blue area titled
  KEISER UNIVERSITY DATABASES.
• Click on the link PROQUEST DISSERTATIONS
  THESES DATABASES.
• Begin with a subject search which will lead to a
  search of related
• ProQuest databases and a resulting list of
  dissertations and
• theses in your chosen subject.

15
Locating APA Format guidesKeiser University
students are required to use the APA format when
writing research papers.

• Do a web search using your search engine of
  choice (i.e. www.google.com or www.bing.com ).
  In the search box, type KUPP of Information. It
  will take you to the website created for your use
  by the KU Pembroke Pines librarians. Or you can
  also search for its URL directly
  http//kuppofinformation.wordpress.com/
• Note There is also a direct link to the KUPP of
  Information on the KU Library homepage, in the
  middle blue section, under STUDENT INSTRUCTOR
  RESOURCES, called KUPP Keiser University Pembroke
  Pines Library.
• In KUPP, select the tab labeled RESOURCES, use
  the drop down arrow to locate and click on the
  section called APA STYLE MATERIALS, which is also
  located under HANDY LINKS on the right hand side.
  
• In the same tab labeled RESOURCES, use the drop
  down arrow to the bottom tab labeled TUTORIALS,
  where you will find APA STYLE TIPS GUIDELINES.
  
• There is also a section on the KU Library
  homepage, in the blue section, called APA STYLE
  WRITING RESOURCES, which provides links to
  various resources on APA format style.

16

• Need additional assistance with research?
• If you have any questions, dont hesitate to
  speak to the librarians
• at your home campus.
• or
• Contact any of the KU campus locations.
• Ask to speak with one of the Campus
  Librarians.
• Daytona Beach [phone]
• Fort Lauderdale [phone]
• Fort Myers [phone]
• Jacksonville [phone]
• Lakeland [phone]
• Melbourne [phone]
• Miami [phone]
• Orlando [phone]
• Pembroke Pines [phone]
• Port St. Lucie [phone]

17
Credits This pathfinder was created by Bonnie
Marshak bmarshak_at_keiseruniversity.edu Tim
Guillen tguillen_at_keiseruniversity.edu



For additional information on Keiser
Universitys College of Advanced Technology, see
www.keiseruniversity.edu/CAT

March 2012