Talking in the Library

Short Cuts: For the soon-to-be K-State graduate

For the soon-to-be K-State graduates out there, revel in the reality that little more than two weeks stand between you and sweet, sweet freedom from the world of academia (unless, of course, your future includes graduate school!).

Excited? Nervous? Prepared? Anxious? A little sad?

Whatever you may be feeling, remember, as you continue on to become doctors and artists and lawyers and teachers, K-State Libraries will still be here with resources and services for alumni. We even have an alumni services page on our website. Begin at the K-State Libraries home page, choose "more" from the "Information for" box, and then select the Alumni link on the right.

The alumni page features free and State of Kansas databases for your use, as well as information on how to check out books after you graduate with a current Alumni Association membership card.

Stay connected with us and K-State after you graduate. Join the K-State Alumni Association or become a Friend of the K-State Libraries. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch.

retrieved from the K-State Libraries flickr

I’m sure you’re not going to run back to the Libraries for more research two days or even two months after you graduate. But keep us in mind for those tricky questions or obscure topics when you can’t help but think, I wish I had a librarian by my side! K-State Libraries will always welcome you!

Congratulations to those of you graduating and good luck with your future endeavors!

Short Cuts: Tips to search Google like a scholar

It's not often that you see Google and scholar in the same sentence. You're probably all too familiar with warnings from professors and librarians alike, "Don't use Google. Use the Library databases!"

It's not that we hate Google. Believe me, sometimes we all eat, sleep, and breathe Google. It's not even that scholarly research can't be found on Google. The reason we tend to warn you away is that there's so much other stuff out there --- from eHow and Wikipedia to personal and corporate sites --- that it gets a little crowded. As a result, it can be exceedingly difficult to track down those scholarly sources amid the pages and pages of junk. But it can be done!

While K-State Libraries has the perfect tools for conducting research and locating scholarly sources, we recognize that everyone uses Google. There's no denying it. But let's be smart about it and use Google like a scholar. Try these tips and tricks the next time you take Google for a spin.

Google logo (retrieved from Flickr Creative Commons by Marcin Wichary)

You can tell a lot about a website from its domain name. For example, .edu is education, .gov is government, .org is a non-commercial site, .com is commercial, and so on. Generally .edu and .gov websites will contain the most credible information, though sometimes .org may be useful. Here's a simple way to limit your search to one type of domain name using the "site:" search.

TRY IT

• Find statistics about childhood obesity from a U.S. government agency
• Search for site:.gov U.S. childhood obesity statistics
• Results should include websites from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, like this one titled Childhood Obesity Facts

TRY IT

• Find the biography of Ernest Hemingway (NOT from Wikipedia)
• Search for site:.edu "Ernest Hemingway" biography
• Results should include the websites of university libraries and colleges with biographies written by faculty and staff. Check out the Ernest Hemingway collection from the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin

Sometimes it's also helpful to limit your results to documents (doc), reports (pdf), or presentations (ppt) from a university or government site. You can add the "filetype:" search to the "site:" search above for more specific results.

TRY IT

• Find a PDF report on climate change by a government agency
• Search for site:.gov "climate change" filetype:pdf
• Results should include PDF documents/reports/papers from government agencies like the National Weather Service or the Environmental Protection Agency

TRY IT

• Find a PowerPoint presentation on the Revolutionary War so you can brush up on your history before an exam
• Search for site:.edu "revolutionary war" filetype:ppt
• Results should include PowerPoint presentations from university and college websites, mostly likely created by professors or students, such as this PowerPoint on Revolutionary War medicine by a professor at the University of Pittsburgh

These are only a few of the tricks that can help you tame the Google beast. For more tips and tricks, click on the image below to view this Google infographic.

Retrieved from Hackcollege.com

Overwhelmed with all the possibilities for finding information? Contact Ask-A-Librarian for more strategies to search Google like a scholar. Or, give Google a rest and visit our databases or new search tool for immediate access to scholarly research.

So...I have this government website for one of my sources. Should I use it?

Absolutely!  In fact, librarians are relieved when students find government websites for projects and research.  Why?  Government websites, unlike a lot of what you might find on the web, are credible and trustworthy.  How can you tell if a website is credible?  Lots of ways!  Let’s take a look at a few things you should consider:

 

1) Who wrote or compiled the information?

Is there an author listed or can you easily identify the organization that published the information?  Or…is it anonymous?  If you can’t find the author or the organization that published the material, it might be time to move on to another source.

 

2) Can you find information about the author(s) or the organization?

Are there credentials listed after the author’s name?  Or can you easily find additional information about the agency or organization?   Look for indications of authority such as a PhD, MD, MS, or other letters indicating that the author has evidence of completing a higher education or graduate degree.  Also, look for affiliations with a university or government organization. 

3) Can you independently verify the information presented?

Can you trace the information presented back to its original source?  Where is the author or organization getting the information?  If you can’t verify the information—you got it—it might be time to move on to another source. 

4) Do they cite their sources?

This goes hand-in-hand with independently verifying the information presented.  Does the source cite a particular study, but doesn’t give any other information about the study? Is there a reference list at the bottom or are references cited throughout the website?  

5) How does it compare to other information you find?

Does the source talk about the topic in a new way that you’ve never encountered?  Is it so out there that you can’t find other sources that talk about it in the same manner?  Remember to think critically and take care when selecting your sources.

These steps give the researcher—you—even more reasons for finding and using government websites in your research.  Want to get started using government information on the web?  Click here to get started.  Also, check out the links below for more information about evaluating websites and other information you find on the web.

 

http://library.duke.edu/services/instruction/libraryguide/evalwebpages.html

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

 

And remember, don't hesitate to Ask-A-Librarian if you have questions!

 

Sources:

Eckman, A.S. (2011, June 28).  Type 2 diabetes – risk factors.  Retrieved from      

                http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002072.htm 

 

--Ashley Stark

Short Cuts: K-State Libraries resources to help you and K-State go GREEN

I think K-State would look lovely in a shade of green, don't you? Yep, I think a sustainable, eco-friendly, Earth Day kind of green would suit K-State perfectly!

You've probably heard a lot about K-State's sustainability efforts recently. There's a lot of green to be proud of! This week, K-State Today announced Kansas State University's recognition as one of the country's greenest colleges for the third year in a row in the The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2120 Edition. Recyclemania made front-page news in The Kansas State Collegian, reporting that K-State made the top 30% of the 605 schools competing with a 23.8% recycling rate. And Earth Day is just around the corner with the Campus Earth Day Festival on Friday, April 20 from 10am - 2pm at Bosco Plaza. Hosted by Students for Environmental Action, this festival will feature a t-shirt swap, plant sale, food, music, and more!

K-State Libraries is looking a little green, too (I think we've caught the sustainability bug!). Last week, K-State Today featured some of our sustainability resources. From sustainable development and green building design to ecoliteracy and renewable energy, we've got your green needs covered with resources online and in print.

Use our new Sustainability Subject Guide to help you locate the best sustainability resources for research in your topic area. Access the guide by clicking on the Earth Day 2012 image on the K-State Libraries home page (this week only) or by choosing the Use a class & research guide link and then typing "sustainability" into the search box.

Whether you're aiming to save the world with renewable energy research or just curious about recycling and biking efforts on college campuses, check out the Sustainability Subject Guide to find articles, books, videos, upcoming events, and the top sustainability organizations at K-State and in Kansas.

Instead of just K-State purple, give K-State purple AND green a try!

Check out this video for more information on Earth Day 2012.

Short Cuts: K-State's history is coming to a browser near you.

K-State Libraries have long been home to a vast collection of photographs, letters, yearbooks, newspaper articles, diaries, course catalogs, books, and other documents that chronicle the history of Kansas State University.

This rich collection has been and still is available to researchers and visitors between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday - Friday in the Richard L.D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections on Hale Library's 5th floor. Those who make the trek are rewarded by being able to consult in-person with knowledgeable staff and view the materials in the comfort of an elegant reading room. For anyone who wishes to do extensive research on Kansas State University history, this will remain the single best option for you.

Those who simply wish to step back into the past and are not embarking on extensive research will be happy to know that significant portions of the collection are being digitized and published online. At present there are two major repositories of this content: Kansas State University Libraries' Digital Collections and The Internet Archive.

To access Kansas State University Libraries' Digital Collections, simple visit the Libraries home page at http://www.lib.ksu.edu, hover over the Research menu, and click Digital Collections & Galleries. From this page you can reach specific collections. A small set of K-State Historical Photographs is available at the link in the top middle of the page. Digital Collections is a link to the other digital collections, including Notable Women of K-State, Kansas State University Yearbooks from 1891-1925, and the Kansas State University Collection which features the book, History of the Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science.

To access K-State Libraries' content on the Internet Archive, navigate to http://archive.org, search for Kansas State University, and click the Kansas State University folder. Within that folder you will find Kansas State University Catalogs (1925-2006), and Kansas State University Yearbooks (1926-2009). The latter will have a new yearbook added each year, but the most recent three years will not be included.

These digital collections are just the first of many more to come. In the near future, we hope to add access to old Kansas State University newspapers. We will also continue to highlight the ongoing work of K-State's faculty, staff, and students through Kansas State University's Research Exchange (K-REX), K-State's Biodiversity Information System (BiodIS), and other platforms. Stay tuned --- more of the past will be coming to your future soon!

Jason Coleman

Short Cuts: SearchIt! Try it and tell us what you think!

Hey students! We've got a new tool for you to try. It's called SearchIt!

This tool will search across nearly all of our print and digital collections with one easy push of the button! Need to find everything there is to know about college sports or diabetes or animal rights or the French Revolution? SearchIt would be the tool for you!

To try it out, start at K-State Libraries. Then in the middle box, go to the text "Want to search everything? Help test our new search tool and tell us what you think," and click on the link. Or simply click here!

Want to learn more? Watch this video for details.

We are testing SearchIt to work out any kinks or bugs. It's important for us to get your feedback. Tell us what you think by completing this comment form.

So have you ever slept in Hale?

There are hundreds of people every year who study & nap in the library, but even if you haven’t, think about all the destruction that can be done to that furniture! Needless to say, the soft seating is due for
replacement, which is happening this summer.

Whether you visit Hale daily, or just during finals week make sure you stop by the 2^nd floor by April 20^th to give your input on what furniture will be purchased. There is a long line of furniture against the back wall, each with its own poster for you to write your opinion on. We want your input since you will be the one using the furniture so you should head over here and take a seat!

P.S. Please refrain from writing any inappropriate comments, we want your voice to be heard but any offensive or inappropriate comments will be covered. 

Short Cuts: Before you write and cite, start with research!

We've covered citation tools and writing help. But what comes before all that? Research!

In the process of writing a paper or preparing a group project, research should always be the starting point. But unfortunately, research can sometimes be the most difficult step, too. But don't worry, I should also mention that research is also our speciality as librarians --- we even think it's fun!

That's why we've created research tools and guides to help you along the research process. Here's a few of them!

• Class guides: These guides are created for specific classes. So if you are looking for research help specific to a class assignment, this would be the place to go. Guides will vary, but should include contact information for librarians, links to K-State Libraries resources and databases, information about scholarly research and popular/scholarly sources, and more! Guides may not be available for every class, but it's definitely worth checking out to see if we have a personalized guide for your class!
• Subject guides: If you are conducting research that isn't tied to a specific class or you can't find a class guide for it, you may want to check out our subject guides. These guides are similar to class guides, but focus on an area of study instead of a class. For example, check out Anthropology, Biology, English, or History. Research tips and tricks may differ from subject to subject, so get familiar with the most effective strategies for your area of study.
• Ask-a-Librarian: Online guides are super helpful, but sometimes, nothing beats one-on-one assistance. If you've hit a research wall, use Ask-a-Librarian to contact a librarian directly. You can chat with us online, meet with us in person (at Library Help and by appointment), or simply call, text, or email us. Like I said, research is one of those things we love to do as librarians. But one thing we love even more than our own research is assisting you and other students with research and teaching you the best tips along the way.

And as you encounter research, writing, and citing over the next few weeks, remember that the end is in sight. Research takes time. Even for research-lovers it's a continual process of trial-and-error and discovery, and for those moments when error seems to be more common than discovery, K-State Libraries is here to help!

Short Cuts: Writing about writing help

Citation help? Check.

Now, let's back up a step. What if you need help actually writing your paper. I mean, like, is everything grammatically correct? Does the organization of your argument make sense? Did you use the correct spelling of there (or is it their)? And did you fully support your thesis?

Getting some writing assistance can help you answer all of these questions as well as teach you tools and strategies to help you answer these questions on your own in the future. Check out our Ask-a-Librarian FAQ's for information about writing help on campus.

If you're an undergraduate student, here are some of your options for writing help on campus:

• Writing Center: All undergraduates are welcome to sign up for an appointment located at 122E English/Counseling Services Building
• Wildcat Writing & Research Consultations: Hale Library & the Writing Center team up on Sunday evenings from 7-9pm during the semester for walk-in writing consultations on the 2nd floor of Hale Library (or sometimes in Hale 301 if the 2nd floor is busy)
• Writing Lab (ENGL 030): For continual personalized assistance, take this weekly, two-hour writing lab for credit during the semester
• Disability Support Services: 202 Holton Hall
• Academic Assistance Center: Walk-in tutoring at 201 Leasure Hall
• Education Support Services: Provides tutoring for 1st generation, low-income, and disable K-State students at 201 Holton Hall

Writing help is everywhere. Have a friend or family member read your paper, too! Really want to make sure your paper is rockin'? Try reading it outloud or even start at the last sentence and read it backwards sentence-by-sentence! Those strategies might help you catch additional mistakes.

And, as you master the art of writing research papers, don't forget your trusty pencil!

 

Short Cuts: Citation tools to help you cite as you write

It's the beginning of April already and there are a mere 6 weeks left in the spring semester. And no, that's not an April Fools joke!

This not only means that the glory of all that is summer is steadily approaching, but it also means that you are most likely smack dab in the middle of papers, projects, and tests. Hale Library has been a buzz of activity from morning to night to prove it!

And, of course, we want to help! We know that not everyone needs the personalized help that you get using our Ask-a-Librarian IM chat or by meeting with us at Library Help on 2nd floor. But I bet everyone could benefit from some citing, writing, and researching tips, tricks, and shortcuts (hey, that's the name of this article series!). So the next couple weeks will focus on these valuable resources for your research.

There's no better place to start than . . . the end? Sure, why not. And that means citations. Citations are something that most people (me included) leave until the very end of the research and paper-writing process. If you've raced to crank out that reference list and those in-text citations 15 minutes before class or tried to remember from what article and database you got that one awesome quotation, then you're not alone. I know the feeling. But we can beat this habit together with some tools to help you quickly and efficiently cite as you write (I rhymed!).

First, there are many citation styles --- APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian --- the possibilities are endless. Luckily, citation styles are generally associated with particular subjects so you won't have to learn them all. Literature majors use MLA, sociology majors use APA, and so on. Check with your professor to make sure you know what citation style is required.

CiteNow! in CQ Researcher

Once you begin your research (before the week the paper is due, right?!), be aware that many of our databases have automatic citation generators. The databases may call them different names --- Cite this in ProQuest Research Library, CiteNow! in CQ Researcher, and Cite in Education Full-Text --- but they'll all do the same thing. Click on this when you've found a resource you want to use in your paper and it will create a citation for you. Choose your citation style, copy and paste the citation into your paper, and you're done! . . . Well, not exactly. You'll have to double check the citation for errors because everyone makes mistakes, even especially software programs!

Cite this in Proquest Research Library

Found a book in the catalog or using a database that doesn’t create citations? No problem. There are lots of handy citation tools that universities and libraries have made to help. The following is a list with a few of the many available tools for the most popular citation styles.

• EasyBib (MLA): You’re a lucky duck if you are using MLA style. www.easybib.com generates citations for books, newspapers, journal articles, and more in MLA style for FREE. Use the Citation Guide for a visual guide to locating citation information for various resources.
• OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab (MLA & APA): This may not generate citations for you, but these guides for MLA and APA are second to none! With detailed information and examples, use this to write your own citations or double check those generated from the databases.
• NCSU Libraries (MLA & APA)
• KnightCite (MLA, APA, & Chicago)
• UNC Libraries (MLA & CBE/CSE)

There are also citation guides available in print as a reference so don’t hesitate to use the Library Catalog to search for one.

Search results in the Library Catalog for AP style

Don’t see the citation tool that’s right for you? Ask us! We’ll do our best to answer any questions you have --- from citation tools to the number of school days left until summer (I counted. It’s 29!).