Police Foundations:
Communications 1
Doing Library Research at
Durham College
www.durhamcollege.ca/library
Welcome to College!
• High School
–
–
–
–
Textbook
Websites
Books (maybe?)
Periodical index
(maybe?)
• College
–
–
–
–
textbook
books (catalogue)
periodical indexes (80+)
Subject specific
encyclopedias
– specialized legal
resources and
databases
– specialized statistical
resources
– government
documents
Library Research Simplified…
• Figure out what KEYWORDS you
will use to search
• Figure out WHERE to search
The Research
Process
Step Four: Present
and Cite
Step Three: Analyze
and Evaluate
Step Two: Find
Information
Step One: Organize
and Articulate
STEP ONE: ORGANIZE AND
ARTICULATE
Researching a Person or Topic
What I know about my Topic
• Hometown Brantford
• Hockey career
– Edmonton Oilers
– Stanley Cups
– Awards
• Traded to Los Angeles
– Sad day
• Got married to Janet Jones
• Owner/coach Phoenix
Supplementary Sources of
Knowledge
•
•
•
•
Books
Videos
Trusted Websites
Encyclopedias
Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stori
es/2009/05/07/2562940.htm
See also:
http://oncampus.macleans.ca/ed
ucation/2009/05/11/irishstudent-dupes-media-withwikipedia/
Let’s find a book
about Wayne Gretzky
in the library…
The TRC is the
“Teacher Resource
Centre” affiliated
with UOIT’s
Education Program.
These books are far
too low level for
your academic
needs!
This item is a
video…you can
book it through
Media Services
(B200)
Let’s look at
this book…
Next Steps
• Go find the book on the
shelf
• Take it to the CIRCULATION
DESK with your student
card
• Normal loan period is 14
days
Options to find more books…
• Broader Subject
– Hockey
– Famous Canadians
– Sports heroes
• Google Books
(books.google.ca)
• Public Library
RESERVES
• Loan period is 3-hours, 1day or 3-days
• Look up call number, take
it to the CIRCULATION DESK
and they will give you the
item
Rick Kerr Students?
• Look up the book(s)
Professor Kerr has put on
Reserve for you.
• Write down the CALL
NUMBER(s) of the book.
• Review: How do you get
this book?
It is often helpful to create a
visual map (Mind Map) for
your Assignment
Minor leagues
NHL
Hockey Career
Team Canada
Marriage/family
Wayne Gretzky
Gambling Scandal
Canadian Hero
Contribution to
sports
Coach/Phoenix
Contribution to
community
My thesis…
Wayne Gretzky is a true
Canadian hero, having made
significant contributions to the
Edmonton Oilers, Canada’s
Olympic teams, and a
number of charities.
Step One Summary
• Mind Map
– What you know about your
topic
– More general information
about your topic
• Draft a thesis statement
STEP TWO: FIND MORE
DETAILED
INFORMATION TO
SUPPORT YOUR THESIS
Sources of Detailed
Information
• Book Chapters
• Articles
– Newspapers
– Magazines
• Websites (trusted)
– CBC Archives
– News Organizations
Credible?
Relevant?
Helpful?
Google is not always
an effective way to
find information!
You need to have
MORE OPTIONS.
FINDING ARTICLES IN THE
LIBRARY
Mostly U.S.
Perspective!
Let’s choose a
different
database.
Multidisciplinary Resources
Library
Databases
do not use
the same
language as
Google!
• Need to use
Boolean
Searching…
Translating a Google Search
into a Library Database Search
• Google:
– Wayne Gretzky charities
• Library:
– Wayne Gretzky AND charities
• Better Library Search:
– Wayne Gretzky AND (charity or
charities or charitable), or
– Wayne Gretzky AND charit*
Most databases allow you to
fill in the appropriate boxes:
Boolean Searching: A Summary
• Use AND to connect unique
concepts
– Gretzky AND olympics
• Use OR to connect synonyms
– olympics OR team canada
• Use * to include all endings on a
root word
– Olympic*
• Use “ “ for phrases
– “Team Canada”
Boolean Searching: A Game!
• Practice your Boolean
Searching by playing
“Snakes and Ladders”…
• http://faculty.uoit.ca/pratt
/Doyle/Boolean%20Snakes
%20and%20Ladders/index.
htm
What does this
article have to
do with
Wayne
Gretzky and
charities??
Nothing!
Why?
IF YOU ABSOLUTELY
MUST GOOGLE…
scholar.google.ca
How many hits on Google
Scholar?
How many recent hits?
What types of journals are
the articles from?
How is the list sorted?
Where can you get the full
text?
Step Three: Analyzing and
Evaluating
Who is the author?
What are his/her credentials?
When was it published?
Is there a bias?
Does it support what you need?
What type of source is it?
Has it been edited or peerreviewed?
Always Cite your Sources
The book is in the Reference
section at REF. LB 2369 .G45 2009.
The help sheet is on the
library website under:
“Research a Topic.”
Because plagiarism is big trouble
Durham Policies and Procedures – Penalties for academic honesty matters
First Offence
Minimum – mark of ‘0’ in test, assignments and/or loss of one alpha grade
in course.
Maximum – withdrawal from course.
Second Offence
Normally results in dismissal from the college for balance of academic
year.
Third Offence
Normally results in dismissal from college with no possibility of readmission
for three years.
Summary: Hints from your Librarian
• Use books and encyclopedias to FOCUS your
topic
• will save you time later
• Draft your THESIS and then search for
supporting material
• Not the other way around!
• Use the web INTELLIGENTLY and EFFICIENTLY
• don’t waste valuable time
• Be CRITICAL of your information sources
• Document what you find so you can CITE it
later!
Help is Available
• Visit the Reference Desk in the
library (the one to the RIGHT when
you enter the building)
– Monday to Friday 8am-9pm
– Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm
• Extension 2390
• Email: reference@dc-uoit.ca