COM LIT R1B: Fetishist, Hoarder & Collector

Campus libraries

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:58:32 -0700

Click on the image below to view an interactive version of the campus library map.

Printable PDF version
Floorplans (Main Stacks | Moffitt | Doe)

Library hours

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:01:14 -0700

Hours on:
Enter as mm/dd/yy

For:

Off-campus access

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:05:18 -0700

Unless home is a campus dorm, in order to access many Library resources you must first configure your computer to use one of two simple access methods:

Proxy Server (easiest method)
After you make a one-time change in your web browser's settings, allows you to use your CalNet ID to access a licensed resource (setup instructions).

VPN (Virtual Private Network)
You install and run the VPN software on your computer. It allows you to log in with a CalNet ID and accesss a licensed resource.

This guide has been archived

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:29:27 -0700

Please note: this course guide was created during a previous semester, and is no longer being actively maintained. For a list of current course guides, please see http://lib.berkeley.edu/alacarte/course-guides.

Where's the article

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:33:10 -0700

Most library databases have the UC-eLinks feature. When a result is not available online, it allows you to check the UC-wide collections to see if it is available elsewhere (either online or in print copy).

Click the orange button associated with a result to see its access options.

Background information

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:35:25 -0700

Encyclopedias are often a good place to begin when you don't know much about a topic. They provide basic background information, the knowledge of which helps when searching for other materials: identify people, events, issues, etc. Entries may also have an associated bibliography that identifies other materials related to a topic.

Online Access...see electronic resources section above

link to Subject > then use left sidebar menu to link to encyclopedias (subject specific)
link by Type > Encyclopedias and almanacs (all of them)

Print Encyclopedias... use OskiCat

The "right" tool for the job

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:49:13 -0700

Choosing the "right" resource means choosing a database that finds you the kind of materials you need.

Books & articles: You're likely to need the UCB Library catalog (OskiCat) and an article database for your assignment. Which one you use, depends on what you already know and the kind of materials sought.

If you already have a citation for an item or you want to find books on your topic, you can start with the catalog
If you want to isolate articles or essays on a topic, you'll need to use an "article" database
Catalogs|article databases and locating results (details)

Encyclopedias: Brief background information.

Knowing something about your topic will give you a place to begin and help you search better. It's hard to search in void!

Library catalog

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:55:44 -0700

Catalogs list library collections, item locations, and availability.

OskiCat is the UCB libraries' catalog
find books, journals, films, etc.
sample catalog record
link to via CATALOGS tab on library website

Article databases & other electronic resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:56:31 -0700

available via Electronic resources link on library website

view for specific subject or view general (interdisciplinary) category
- Recommended = central resource, typically helpful
- sidebar menu (links to other types of resources in selected subject)
view alphabetically by type (news databases, encyclopedias, etc.)
database descriptions = subject(s), type of materials, dates of publication, if full text available

Evaluating sources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:08:45 -0700

Research is as credible as the work that goes into it! It's important to analyze the information you find, including where it comes from.

While a magazine or journal article database lists results from sources known to be reputable/scholarly, finding material via Google requires additional evaluation on your part.

guide on evaluating web sites

Citing sources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:10:37 -0700

Properly citing sources is an important part of your research. It allows you to avoid plagiarism and highlights your engagement with related scholarship.

In a nutshell: "Whenever you quote or base your ideas on another person's work, you must document the source you used. Even when you do not quote directly from another work...."

The above extract is taken from the Library's guide on citing sources. The guide gives an overview of this topic and links to formatting rules for the major citation styles.

Scholarly & Popular

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:52:37 -0700

Some research databases contain popular and scholarly content (articles from magazines, newspapers, etc., in addition to those from scholarly journals).

You may want to limit results to scholarly content. If so, you can choose a resource that only contains it, or, if using one with mixed content, you can limit to scholarly materials (here's how).

Subject Specialists

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:55:36 -0800

UCB has librarians specializing in certain disciplinary subjects and certain kinds of materials (government documents, film, etc.).

Contact list of library liaisons

Research Advisory Service

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:15:44 -0700

Research Advisory Service for Cal Undergraduates

Book a 30-minute appointment with a librarian who will help refine and focus research inquiries, identify useful online and print sources, and develop search strategies for humanities and social sciences topics (examples of research topics).

Schedule, view, edit or cancel your appointment online (CalNetID required)

Chat with a librarian

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:44:02 -0700

How to use this page

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:18:43 -0700

These notes contain additional suggestions about how you might proceed to best use the resources outlined in this class guide. They presume familiarity with the general concepts and information addressed in the other tabbed pages of the guide.

A few search tips

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:31:29 -0700

Recommended Tips for searching databases (also consider limiting by language)

Catalog searching (for books about a topic)
- search 2 or 3 terms representing key concepts of your focus
- try different combinations of term, synonyms, related terms
- look at the record for a relevant result -- does its subjects suggest other search terms
- try adding the term criticism for literary analysis
- try adding terms for specific types of materials: encyclopedias, biographies...
  
  Sample keyword searches...
  
  hoarding
  obsessive-compulsive disorder
  compulsive behavior
  france and history and class
  capitalism and material*
  kubrick and criticism
  eugene o'neill and biography
- Limit by language - use modify search button
- Limit by material type - change default search of Entire Collection
  to seach by type or location -- i.e. Films/Videos
- If your search is too broad - use Modify button for available limits

A research trajectory

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:59:37 -0700

Decide text/topic you are interested in writing about -- at least preliminarily.

Review the suggested resources section, below, and the Resources tab.

Select a resource whose content matches the kind of materials you are seeking to find and whose disciplinary focus maps to your topic (meaning publications in that field are likely to be writing about it). Or...choose an interdisciplinary database.
Search isolated resources to see what others have written on your topic, or what others are writing about that might suggest further topical focus.

Select promising results to examine closely. Remember to note any information you may need if you end up citing them.

Suggested resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:26 -0700

OskiCat

find books on your topic
find the periodicals you've already identified as having articles on your topic
find encyclopedias to get background information

Article databases (by SUBJECT)

identify article and essay content on your topic
identify current research
identify research focused on an aspect of a topic
search for publications from a specific discipline
- literature, psychology, film studies, history, etc.
MLA is a recommended database for literary criticism
- citation database / no full text
- use UC-eLinks to locate result text

Article databases (GENERAL)

interdisciplinary
often have popular sources (magazine & news) as well scholarly
- how to limit to scholarly results (should you want to)
Academic Search Complete is one recommended resource
- popular and scholarly content (good for popular culture topics)
- some results available online
- has UC-eLinks feature
Google Scholar is one recommended resource
- strength is scholarly journal literature
- Use UC-eLinks to get full text
- Enable UC-eLinks to display (use Scholar Preferences > Library links)
JSTOR is one recommended database
- scholarly journals
- full text resource
- use advanced search mode (to narrow to specific discipline)

Encyclopedias (subject encyclopedias)

background on topic | biographical information on practitioner in field
Link path = Library homepage > Electronic Resources > Subject > then review the left sidebar menu to see if there is a link to encyclopedias

...Literature > encyclopedias > Literature Resource Center
- good for brief biography of literary authors
- Use Person Search (results in tabs - see biographies)