Library Orientation

How to locate books and ebooks, search article databases, and find scholarly articles.

by Jeffrey Sabol

slides available at https://libraryman.github.io/infolit/

Goals for this Orientation:

Students should be aware of the Library's policies.

Understand and articulate the qualities of peer reviewed articles.

Search the Library Catalog for print and ebooks.

Search Library Databases for scholarly and popular articles.

Understand the value of information.

Library Hours

Library Loan Policies

*LBCC students can also check out books at CSULB

Library Course Reserves

a.k.a. Class Textbooks

The check out period is usually from 2 hours to 1 day, this is set by the professor

The Library does not purchase textbooks, either a professor places a copy on reserve or the textbook is purchased through an equity grant.

What are the qualities of a peer reviewed article?

What is the process of an article being peer reviewed?

What are the qualities of a peer reviewed article?

High Academic Quality, Factually and Statistically Correct, Evaluated by experts in the field.

What is the process of an article being peer reviewed?

The author conducts research and writes the article, peers of the author who are experts in her field review the article to ensure that it is of high academic quality and that all research is cited and interpreted correctly.

What are the reasons to cite our sources?

Avoid plagiarism.

Give credit to the author of the idea.

To be able to follow the evolution of an idea over time.

How do we find Books and eBooks?

The Library Catalog

If you are trying to locate books or eBooks the Library Catalog is the place to start

Searching for articles:

Search in a particular database,

OR

Use the advanced search in the Library Catalog to search multiple databases at once.

What criteria do you use to evaluate an article?

How are the characteristics of a scholarly article different than the characteristics of a popular article?

How to evaluate an article:

Currency: The timeliness of the information.

When was the information published?

Has it changed, ever been updated?

Is it necessary for your topic to have current information?

How to evaluate an article:

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.

Does the information directly relate to your topic?

Does it help you answer questions?

Have you looked at any other sources to find the best option?

How to evaluate an article:

Authority: The source of the information.

Who is the author or publisher?

Are they qualified to write about the topic?

If it's a website, what does the URL say about the source (i.e. .gov, .org, .com, .edu, etc.)?

How to evaluate an article:

Accuracy: The reliability and validity of the information.

Is the information supported by evidence?

Can you verify the information with another source?

Is the author or publisher biased or unbiased?

How to evaluate an article:

Purpose: The reason the information exists.

What is the purpose of the information?

To entertain, persuade, sell, teach, or inform?

Is the information fact or opinion?

How to evaluate an article:

Currency: The timeliness of the information.

Relevance: The importance of the information for your needs.

Authority: The source of the information.

Accuracy: The reliability and validity of the information.

Purpose: The reason the information exists.

In Class Exercise

1. Pick a search term.

2. Conduct the search in the Library Catalog, and limit the result to articles.

3. Conduct the search in one of the two Multi-Search Databases.

4. Compare the difference and similarities.

5. Share one difference and one similarity.

Still have questions?

How to get help:

Email: jsabol@lbcc.edu

Phone: (562) 938-4232

Chat: From the Library website or catalog

slides available at www.infolit.jeffreystephensabol.org