Library Scavenger Hunt

Activity 1: Library Scavenger Hunt,

The majority of Regis Library services are available online. Let's check out the services available. Go to http://www.regis.edu/library.htm

1.At first glance, which Library Quick Links would you most likely use in your research process and how would they be useful?

At first glance, anything under the “Research” sub-heading looks very helpful. Specifically I think I would begin at “Research by Subject.” This would be useful because it gives you access to many different types of resources about the topic you need to research. 

2.The Instructional Technology Masters Program involves education at the K-12 level. When researching by subject, what subjects would you most likely use throughout this program?

When researching for this program I will be mostly using the Education subject. It might also occasionally be pertinent to use the Computer and Information Science subject since my program is in both education and technology.

3.Click on the Research by Subject and select Education. Explore the different information available under each of the tabs (Articles, Books, Web Sites, etc). What information is available to you? What information do you think would be helpful to you for this Master's program and/or for your classroom?

Some of the resources available to me include articles on different databases, print books at the Dayton Library, electronic collections of books, websites about education in general, information about APA, and a database about testing. I think the most helpful information for me in this program is the online databases and articles. The at home access to so much data is very desirable and convenient.  

4.Scroll through the A-Z Database. Look at the different types of databases that are available. Pay particular attention to ERIC and Books 24x7. What is the focus of each of the databases? Click on each of the databases and see what features are offered.

There are many different types of databases available to me. Some of the focuses include newspaper articles, academic periodicals, videos, journal articles, songs, and dictionaries. These are not only for education, but on many other topics as well. ERIC, the Education Resource Information Center, is a database of magazine articles, journal articles, book excerpts, and educational reports. ERIC has advanced searching options that include full text only, peer reviewed only, elementary/secondary only, a specific type of resource only, and a specific publisher only. You can also enter up to three search phrases at a time. Books 24x7 offers a virtual tour for new users, citation resources, and webinars. When searching you can narrow down which collection and content you want to search from, or you can search through all of it.

5.Take a look at the online tutorials…which topics are available for students? Which topics may be of assistance to you?

The online research tutorials available to me are Library Introduction, Subject Searching and the Library Databases, Accessing Full Text Articles, Interlibrary Loan, and the Prospector Union Catalogue. I think all of those will be helpful to me as I work through my program at Regis, but the most helpful one will be Subject Searching and the Library Databases.

6.What are the steps to narrow and refine an ERIC database search?

You start with a search phrase. You can put in up to three phrases to search from. Then you click search. When your results come up, the left hand side of the page says “refine your search.” Here you can select full text, microfiche, or peer reviewed. You can also adjust the publication date. If you click “more” you have many other refining options as well. It just depends on what you are looking for.

7.Not all information for research is available online. If you have identified materials that are not available online, what are your options for obtaining them?

If I can’t find what I need online I can put in a request for interlibrary loan to get the materials I need from another library.

8.When you find an article that states "Check for full text" what should you do?

When an article says “check for full text” you should click “check for full text.” It then gives you options to obtain full text. It may be available online immediately through another library. You can request it through interlibrary loan. Or you can search for it in the Prospector Catalogue.

9.Search through the Handouts and Guides section. Which guides do you think will be of assistance as you go through your Regis program?

There are many helpful handouts available to me. Some of these include a floor plan and information about the Dayton Library, information on APA formatting, an Education Resources FAQ, and a Books 24x7 user guide.

10.         Describe the Ask Us program? Which parts would you most likely use?

The Ask Us program is assistance in researching via chat or email with research librarians. Real time service is immediate and they have very extended hours. I will definitely use the chat when I am researching to find the best resources available to me.

11.         In research, citations are important; the Regis library has provided guides to assist you with the correct formatting styles. How would you direct another student to the citation guide location?

To help another student find the citation guides I might send them the link: http://www.regis.edu/library.asp?page=research.citationguide. Or I could tell them the steps: Go to the Regis Library quick links page. Click on the Research heading. Click Citation Guides. The select the citation guide you need.

12.                  After reviewing the Regis Library web site, what sections do you view as the most helpful? What information would you like to see? Explain.

I think the most helpful part of the Regis Library website is the Ask Us service. I also think the online databases are going to be a super helpful resource. There is so much information in one place. I don’t think there is anything else that I would need to be on the library website that isn’t already there!