Friedsam Memorial Library

Professor: Prof. Mulryan
Librarian: Ann M. Tenglund [ateng@sbu.edu or 375-2378]
Date of session: November 4, 2009

FIND BOOKS:
Use FRIAR, the library's online catalog. Use the Subject keyword and the Title/Contents/Series keyword indices.

--> Did you know that the library has almost half a million individual volumes? Aren't you glad that there is an online catalog to help find materials?

FIND ARTICLES:
ProQuest Research Library
Academic Search Premier

In both databases, use the limiters at the top to select either magazines or scholarly/academic journals.
JSTOR--almost all full text and all scholarly/academic, but slightly older (nothing within the last 3-5 years)
CQ Researcher --not peer-reviewed, but includes pro/con on many different topics

WEBSITE RESOURCES:
Google
Bing
Ask: http://www.ask.com
Dogpile: http://www.dogpile.com

EASILY CITE WHAT YOU FIND: Use Noodletools

--> This tool is a great companion to your Handbook and instructions in class!

Evaluation of Web Sites

How do you know that a Web site you've just found is legitimate? Is it worthy of inclusion in your Works Cited list for your own research? How would you feel if you found out that a site you had referenced was actually a hoax site? What about if the site's author was a ten-year old?

Criteria to Consider

Authority of site--who wrote the site, what are his/her/their credentials, and why should you believe him/her/them?

Where is the site hosted?

If it is on an .edu or .k12 or .gov (or derived) domain, it is most likely legitimate

Other domains could be purchased if available, so you never know until you explore further whether a site is what it claims to be

Objectivity--why is this site there? To provide information as a public service? To try to influence you in some manner? To sell you something?

Currency--how current is the site, and how does that match your expectations?

Accuracy--is the information presented in an accurate and clear manner? How does it compare with other sources?

Sites used for evaluation in class:

http://www.dhmo.org/

http://www.buydehydratedwater.com/

http://www.rythospital.com

http://panexa.com/

http://www.newtechusa.com/ppi/main.asp

http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/elections/results.htm

http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=577751621&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=63890&RQT=309&VName=PQD