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
Resources
• 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/
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
Library Catalog
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Basic Search
Advanced Search
Call Number
Copies
Availability
Location
Other LACCD Colleges
Library of Congress Classification
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
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:
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.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