IDIS 300: Ideas in Writing

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IDIS 300 Ideas in Writing

• Tami Smith, Librarian
• Langsdale Library - Reference Services
• 410-837-4274
• langref_at_ubalt.edu
• AIM UBLangsdale

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Objectives

• At the end of these this session, you will be
  able to
• Generate search strategy with keywords
• Identify 1-2 subject-specific databases and
  locate 2-3 journal citations on your topic
• Find journal articles in Langsdale, determine the
  location of articles in other nearby libraries or
  order the article through ILL
• Use the library catalog to identify three books
  on your topic and locate them in the library or
  request them from another campus

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Research Tips

• Read the assignment make sure you understand it
  (ask instructor for help)
• Get background info (dictionary, encyclopedia,
  etc.)
• Use library resources (databases, books, etc.)
• When searching the Web, evaluate choose
  websites carefully
• Manage your time

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Research Help

• Langsdale Research Guideshttp//langsdale.ubalt.e
  du/howto/libresearchindex.htm
• How-To Subject Guideshttp//langsdale.ubalt.edu/h
  owto/index.htm
• Langsdale Research Tutorialshttp//langsdale.ubal
  t.edu/howto/tutorials/research_tutorials.htm
• Contact the Library (Ask a Librarian)http//langs
  dale.ubalt.edu/contact.htm

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Writing Help

• Academic Resource Center Writing
  Resourceshttp//www.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page4
  06410-837-5383
• Online Guide to Writing and Researchhttp//www.um
  uc.edu/prog/ugp/ewp_writingcenter/writinggde/welco
  me.shtml
• Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Perduehttp//owl.engl
  ish.purdue.edu/owl/

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Course Website

• http//langsdale.ubalt.edu/howto/course_websites/f
  a07/idis300_richardson.htm

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• The Barcode
• GET IT. USE IT.
• Apply online http//langsdale.ubalt.edu/info_serv
  ices/lib_reg_form.cfm
• Apply in person
• Circulation desk, Langsdale Library

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Langsdale Library

• Circulation (First Floor)
• Check out books/videos/DVDs
• Get/renew a library barcode
• 410-837-4260 or langcirc_at_ubalt.edu
• Reference (First Floor)
• Ask a question/get research help
• Sign up for workshops
• 410-837-4274 or langref_at_ubalt.edu

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Google Scholar

• Search engine for academic resources
• Peer-reviewed papers
• Pre-pub articles
• Abstracts
• Theses
• Books

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Langsdale Library - ILL

• Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
• Request materials not owned by any USM library
• Books 2-3 weeks articles 1-2 weeks
• Electronic delivery for articles
• Free!
• http//illiad.ubalt.edu/BAL/
• Carol Vaeth cvaeth_at_ubalt.edu or 410-837-4283

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Catalog USMAI
http//catalog.umd.edu/F/?funcfilefile_namefind
-clocal_baseub
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Off-Campus Access

• Use to log in from off-campus before
  trying to open a database

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Off-Campus Access (Screen 1)
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Off-Campus Access (Screen 2)
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Boolean Operators

• Named for George Boole, a 19th century English
  mathematician
• AND joins concepts together (both/all)
• OR combines synonyms or related terms
  (either/any)
• NOT excludes terms or concepts (leave out)

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Combining Keywords
Gay AND Marriage
Gay AND Marriage AND Maryland
Homosexual AND Civil Union AND U.S.
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Combining Keywords
(Gay OR Homosexual) AND (Marriage OR Civil
Union) AND (Maryland OR D.C.)
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Ideas in Writing Databases

• Business Databases
• ABI/INFORM
• Business Source Premier
• And more
• General Databases
• Academic Search Premier
• CQ Researcher (whole issue on a single topic)
• Lexis/Nexis Academic (full-text newspapers,
  journals and news transcripts)

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FindIt (Pop-Up Window)

• Searches all databases at once to find full text
• Will also show location of print, if Langsdale
  owns it

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Wrap-Up

• Make sure you have an active barcode
  (Circulation)
• Use that barcode to access databases off-campus
  through Research Port
• You may find information on your topic in
  technology, business, or even health databases
• Dont forget print (books, documents, etc)!
• Use ILL to get books and articles USM doesnt
  have
• When in doubt, ask a librarian!

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Questions?

• For more information
• Tami Smith tsmith_at_ubalt.edu AIM Yahoo
  langtfs
• Langsdale langref_at_ubalt.edu
• Reference Desk 410-837-4274
• AIM UBLangsdale