COLWRIT R4B: (The Idea of) Prison

Doe | Moffitt | Main Stacks

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:26:53 -0700

The Berkeley library system is arranged by subject -- what materials are in which library, how they're shelved, the Library website, where to get help....

Most libraries names tell their story. Doe, Moffitt, and the Gardner Main Stacks (which connects them) share the broadest subject focus in the UCB library system. Because they are named after people, the focus is less immediately apparent.

focus = Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences

their Floor plans

Library hours

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:15:14 -0800

Hours on:
Enter as mm/dd/yy

For:

Map of UCB libraries

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:28:45 -0800

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

Printable PDF version

Off-campus access to e-resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:29:16 -0800

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.

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This guide has been archived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.

Who is writing about my topic ?

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:06:44 -0800

Who is likely to be writing about your topic?

Popular press (news, magazines, websites, etc.)
Scholars (journal literature, books, etc.)
Both ?

Many resources focus on literature published in a specific field. So, you need to consider which disciplines are likely to be examining your topic.

While everyone will be writing about some aspect of prison, some may choose to look in databases focused on education, or psychology, or sociology, or film studies, based on their specific focus.

* Considering the above will help you select a resource to meet your needs. It's not all about keywords, but where you search. *

Where are they writing about my topic ?

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:25:53 -0800

Consider the currency of your topic. Different types of publications serve different functions, and have different production timeframes (tutorial snippet on the information timeline, and the content focus of different types of resources).

Is anybody writing about my topic ?

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:27:32 -0800

It depends. Information doesn't exist in a void, generated on demand -- someone has to have created it.

If your topic is widely studied, or current news, finding topical materials won't be hard. On the other hand, just because you can imagine a topic, doesn't mean others are writing about/studying it.

The "right" tool for the job

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:36:18 -0800

It's hard to find what you need, if you're looking in the "wrong" place. Choose a resource that includes the kinds of materials needed.

Books & articles: You're likely to need the library catalog and an article database for your assignment. Which one, and when, 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 need to isolate articles or essays on a topic, you will want to use an "article" database
- here's the scoop

When you need a place to begin

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:30:09 -0800

Encyclopedias provide background that helps when searching for other materials: identify people, events, issues, etc. Entries may have an associated bibliography that identifies other materials related to a topic.

Online Access...

review information in electronic resources section, above
link to e-resources by Subject > then use left sidebar menu to link to (subject specific) encyclopedias
or...link to e-resources by Type > Encyclopedias and almanacs (to see all of them)

To find print encyclopedias use OskiCat
(for tips of searching OskiCat, see Putting It All Together tab)

Article databases & other electronic resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:45:13 -0700

access is via FIND INFORMATION tab on UCB Library website

electronic resources are viewable by subject or by the general (interdisciplinary) category
- article databases shown by default
- sidebar menu links to other types of resources
- Recommended sun = central, typically helpful resources
database description typically includes
- subject(s)
- type of materials
- dates of publication
- if results' full text is available
resources can also be viewed by type
- dictionaries
- encyclopedias
- image and sound databases
- news databases, etc.

Library catalogs

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:32:42 -0700

List what a library owns, its location and availability...

OskiCat is the UCB libraries' catalog
- books, journals, films, etc.
access via CATALOGS tab on UCB Library website

Where is the article?

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:37:49 -0700

Many library databases incorporate the UC-eLinks feature. You use it when a result's text is not provided by the database searched. It checks the UC-wide collections to see if the source is available elsewhere...

online (through a different database)
in print (at a library)
example database results with UC-eLinks

Citing sources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:22:58 -0800

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 to citing sources. The guide gives an overview of this topic and links to formatting rules for the major citation styles.

* Shortcut: many databases allow you to export citations in a given citation style (MLA, APA, etc.) . This functionality is often found under the email options provided by the database. *

Evaluating sources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:24:37 -0800

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.

critical analysis of sources (via Cornell University Library)

While a library database lists results from sources known to be reputable/scholarly, finding material via Google requires additional evaluation.

evaluating web sites

Scholarly or popular ?

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:40:24 -0700

Some research databases contain popular as well as scholarly content. Depending on your needs, you may want to limit results to just scholarly content. You can...

choose a resource that only contains it
if using a resource with mixed content, limit to the scholarly material
- here's how

Library Workshop: Research 101

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:08:25 -0700

Unsure how to start a paper or research project? Think maybe you could stand to brush up on search strategies?

If this sounds familiar, Library Workshop: Research 101 has you covered. This interactive tutorial explores six stages of the research process. You can view it from start to finish, or focus on specific sections as needed:

1: Begin Your Research

Starting strategies, from choosing a topic to finding the right keywords.

Chat with a librarian

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:14:49 -0800

Doe & Moffitt Reference Desks

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:23:18 -0800

Since the UCB libraries are structured by subject, you may wish to seek help from the library specializing in your disciplinary focus.

Doe & Moffitt libraries focus on the arts, humanities and social sciences. Since their subject base is so broad, their reference desks provide generalized research help for the library system.

Doe reference hours | contact info.
Moffitt reference hours | contact info.

Research Advisory Service

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:28:28 -0800

Research Advisory Service for Cal Undergraduates

Book a 30-minute appointment with a librarian

help focusing your research inquiry
help identifying online and print sources
help developing search strategies (for humanities and social sciences topics)

Schedule (view/edit) an appointment online [CalNetID required]

How to use this tab

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:33:21 -0800

This course guide is created as a teaching tool and designed to be read as a unit. Doing so will provide the context for selecting the "right" resource and the techniques for manipulating it -- knowledge and skills that will support immediate and future research needs.

The notes in this putting it together tab contain suggestions about how to proceed with research based on your assignment. These suggestions build upon, and presume familiarity with, the general concepts addressed in the other tabbed sections of this course guide.

Tips

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:08:16 -0800

Tips for searching library databases
- you may also wish to limit by language
defining a do-able topic (narrowing & broadening focus)

Searching the UCB catalog, OskiCat
- search 2 or 3 terms representing key concepts of your focus
- try different combinations of term, synonyms, related terms
- look at the complete record for a relevant result -- do its subjects suggest other search terms to try
- try adding terms for specific types of materials to your search: encyclopedias, biography...
  
  Sample keyword searches...
  
  prison and gangs
  prison violence
  privatization and prison
  contracting and corrections
  child* and prison
  child* and educat* and prison
  encyclo* and prison*
  leonard peltier and biography
- subject links (found in relevant results) narrow in on materials about a subject. For example... Prison Gangs -- United States, Children of Prisoners, Prisoners -- United States -- Family Relationship, etc.
- author search
  - for a person...finds books by, interviews with, correspondence...
  [use the correct search syntax last name, first name]
  - an organization's name...finds materials by an agency, government body...
- Limit by material type - change default search of Entire Collection
  to seach by type or location -- i.e. Films/Videos
- Limit by language - use modify search button
- If your search is too broad - use Modify button for available limits

Suggested resource types

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:21:47 -0800

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)

to identify article and essay content on your topic
to identify current research
to identify research focused on a specific aspect of a topic
to search for publications from a specific discipline
- sociology. education, women's studies, history, etc.

Article databases (GENERAL)

interdisciplinary
often have popular sources (magazine & news) as well scholarly
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
- you must enable UC-eLinks to display in Google Scholar [set via Options gear > Scholar Preferences > Library links]
JSTOR is one recommended database
- scholarly journals
- full text resource
- use advanced search mode (to narrow to specific discipline. and/or limit your search)

A research trajectory

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:21:22 -0800

Review information in the My topic tab to determine who is likely to be writing about your focus, and where

Review the suggested resources, below, and also the information in the Choosing a Resource tab (to isolate the type of tool you want to use and note important info. about its use)

Visit the library homepage and select a resource whose content matches the kind of materials you are seeking to find. When choosing an article database, select one whose disciplinary focus maps to your topic (i.e. publications in that field are likely to be writing about it).

Or... choose a General (interdisciplinary) database.
Search to see what's been written about your topic (or see what issues others are writing about -- that might help you refine your focus).
- see Tips section of this tab for help with searching

Examine promising results.
- remember to note the information you'll need if you end up citing them