LIBRARY WORKSHOP – LIBRARY ORIENTATION
Contact Information: library@ncu.edu | 888-628-1569
summary | This workshop will familiarize students with the Library’s
website and will provide instruction on how to access the Library’s research
resources and services.
learning objectives | Upon completion of this workshop students will know
how to:







Effectively navigate the Library’s website
Access the Research Process pages on the Library’s website
Access and use the Library’s Roadrunner Search
Access links to databases and other research resources
Locate links to video tutorials and other instructional material on the
Learn the Library page
Identify when it is appropriate to use the Interlibrary Loan service
Contact the librarians for further assistance
I.
library login | To access the Library, first login to your Learner Portal
page (http://my.ncu.edu) and click on the link for Library. Look for a
closed lock icon in the upper right hand corner of the Library’s home
page. This will confirm that you are logged in and able to access all of
the Library’s databases. If you are unable to login, we recommend that
you go to your Learner Portal login screen and click Forgot Passphrase
or Reset Passphrase.
II.
contact us | Our staff hours and contact information are front and
center so you know when help is available and how to reach us.
III.
library banner | Here you will find the following important links:
A. Leave Feedback – let us know how we’re doing.
B. My eReference – where all your Ask a Librarian questions and
answers are stored. You are alerted to new messages in red
above the Roadrunner Search box.
C. Ask a Librarian – easiest way to submit questions to the
Reference Librarians.
D. Chat – when live chat is available you will see the green Chat
icon displayed.
Page 1 of 4
IV.
V.
navigation bar | The house icon will always return you to the
Library’s home page. Sometimes the navigation bar will display an
alert message, such as when there is scheduled maintenance to a
library database.
research resources | Provides access to all of the Library’s
subscription and open access resources and tools.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Databases – alphabetical listing of all subscription databases
Find an Article - groups databases according to discipline
Find an eBook – all e-book databases
Find a Resource - easiest way to locate a particular journal or
book within the Library. If your publication is available, the
results screen will tell you which years you have access to and in
which databases. If you would like to determine whether or not a
particular journal is peer-reviewed, search for the journal name
in Ulrichsweb, available from the Library’s Databases page.
E. Dissertation Resources – databases that contain full text
dissertations, as well as additional resources useful for
dissertation research.
F. Open Access Resources – hundreds of websites appropriate for
NCU academic specializations
G. Alumni Databases – only site to access databases once you have
graduated. Note that alumni databases are for personal use
only; use of these resources for business or commercial
purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes a direct violation of
University policy and database vendor agreements. Additionally,
alumni do not have access to Interlibrary Loan.
VI.
research help | Provides access to all of the Library’s instructional
resources.
A. Learn the Library – library instructional videos, tutorials, and
other resources
B. Need Help with a Course? – searchable Library guides that
contain supplemental resources which may include articles,
books, e-books, and websites. Some guides also provide
research techniques pertaining to specific assignments.
Page 2 of 4
C. Research Process - thorough overview of the research process
may be found on the Library’s Research Process page (under the
Research Help menu). Use the Table of Contents to jump to a
particular step in the process, or read from beginning to end, to
understand how research is done in an organized and efficient
manner.
D. Information Literacy Tutorial - you receive immediate feedback
on each question letting you know whether you answered
correctly. At the end of the tutorial, you may email your final
score to yourself and/or your instructor.
E. Library FAQs - you may search the Library’s frequently asked
questions by keyword, or browse by category such as Database
Problems, Interlibrary Loan, and Research Techniques. Some
FAQs also contain instructional screen shots.
F. Scholarly Publication - factors to consider when you are ready to
publish your own research.
VII.
services | Provides access to all of the Library’s services. There is no
cost for any Library service.
A. Ask a Librarian – easiest way to submit questions to the
Reference Librarians.
B. Research Consultations – in-depth, customized, one-on-one
meeting with a reference librarian to discuss resources and
search strategies. Page provides policies and request form.
C. Interlibrary Loan – free service to request articles, book
chapters, etc. but requires first time user registration.
D. Library Workshops – schedule of upcoming workshops and
registration links.
E. Library Disability Services – summary of available services.
VIII.
IX.
about us | Meet the Library team, check operating hours and contact
information, access the Library News Blog (requires you to login with
your NCU username and password), and read about the Library’s
mission and policies. This section also includes pages about alternative
libraries.
popular databases | Quick links to the most frequently used
databases. Note the link for Other Databases provides a link back to
the full listing of databases.
Page 3 of 4
X.
roadrunner search | Roadrunner searches approximately 95% of the
library’s database content, including articles, e-books and videos.
Some databases, however, contain information that can't be displayed
in the Roadrunner Search interface. It excludes databases with special
content such as Mergent Online, ReferenceUSA, and Euromonitor
International. It also excludes the dissertation databases. Using
Roadrunner Search is a great starting point for your research. The
search strategies used within Roadrunner will apply to other
databases, as well.
XI.
additional features | The following features are located centrally on
the Library’s home page and nowhere else:
A. Resource of the Month – highlights a different resource each
month, which you can rate and review.
B. Director’s Message – updated quarterly, it provides library
additions, research tips, announcements, etc.
C. Popular Library Workshops – identifies our more frequently
attended and viewed workshops
D. What’s New! – most recent three posts from the Library News
Blog; click to expand the message.
XII.
quiz | Answer the questions below to reinforce what you have learned
in today’s workshop.
1. What is the easiest way to submit questions to the Reference
Librarians?
2. Which Library page will provide with listing of databases categorized
by discipline?
3. What Library page can you visit to see a recording of all available
Library workshops?
4. Which Library page can you visit to learn about information literacy
and take a short quiz?
5. If the Article Linker button does not provide a link to the full-text
document within the Library, how can you request the full-text?
6. Where can you go to learn more about steps in the research process,
such as finding a topic and database searching techniques?
7. Which Library resource searches approximately 95% of the library’s
database content, including articles, e-books and videos?
8. Which Library page contains course specific supplemental materials
including books, articles and websites?
Page 4 of 4