SCANDIN R5B: Immigrant Experience

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.

Article databases

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:15:37 -0800

access via FIND INFORMATION tab on UCB Library website > Articles link

view by subject or general (interdisciplinary) category
description =
- subject(s)
- type of materials included
- dates of publications included
- if full text is provided for results
Recommended tag =
- central, typically helpful resource

Other electronic resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:17:48 -0800

encyclopedias, government documents, image databases, news databases, etc.
access via FIND INFORMATION tab on UCB Library website

use Electronic resources link
- to view by subject (link to subject, then use sidebar menu to limit by resource type)
- or view by type (all subjects combined)

Need a place to begin ?

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:18:59 -0800

If you have a topic but don't know much about it, encyclopedias can provide background that will help you get started and search more effectively.

identify the people, events, issues, etc., related to your topic
entries often have a bibliography that identifies materials related to their topic
online encyclopedias
- for access, review information in electronic resources section, above
print encyclopedias
- search OskiCat for library location

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

The "right" tool for the job

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:12:04 -0700

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 you need.

Looking for books & articles ? You're likely to need both the library catalog and an article database. Which one, and when, depends.

start with a catalog
- if you already have a citation for an item
- if you want to find books on a topic
start with an article database
- if you need to isolate articles or essays on a topic
what you need to know...

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

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) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:53:56 -0700

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 pulling 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.

Searching a database

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:56:22 -0800

defining a topic (narrowing & broadening a search)
database syntax & use tips for library databases
- additionally, it may help to limit searches by language
tips for catalog searching
- to find materials about a topic...
  - search 2 or 3 terms representing key concepts of your focus
  - there isn't a search that finds everything: try different combinations of terms, synonyms, related terms
  - look at the records of relevant results -- do their subjects suggest other search terms
    
    important: subject terms are defined by the Library of Congress, and not always what you would expect. Examine relevant results to discover how your topic, time period, people, etc., is defined. Use that terminology to search for other materials on that subject.
  - for literary analysis, try adding the term criticism to your other search terms (to find materials about an author or literary movement -- see example, below)
  - try adding terms for specific types of materials, encyclopedias, biographies, to your search terms (to locate those types of resources -- see example, below)
    
    sample keyword searches...
    
    norwegian american
    norwegian and united states
    norwegian* immigra*
    norwegian* america* and wom*
    norwegian american and social conditions
    lutheran and united states and 19th century
    norwegian* america* and literature
    norwegian* america* and criticism
    norwegian* america* and biograph*
- author search (for a person) - finds books by, interviews with, correspondence...
  [use specified syntax last name, first name]
- limit by material type - change default search of Entire Collection
  to seach by type -- i.e. Journals/Magazines/Newspapers, Films/Videos...
- search too broad ? Use Modify button to add limits.

A suggested research trajectory

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:26:31 -0800

Review information in Choosing a Resource tab. Make sure you understand how the identified resources differ in the types of information and materials they provide.
Review tips for finding historical background or literary analysis, if you are seeking those kinds of materials.

Review the list of suggested resources, in this tab
Select a resource whose content matches the kind of materials you are seeking to find and whose disciplinary focus maps to your topic (i.e. publications in that field are likely to be writing about your topic).

Or... choose a General (interdisciplinary) database

Search it to see what's been written about your topic -- or what issues others are writing about in regards to a topic that might help you refine your focus

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

Suggested resources

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:26:41 -0800

Use OskiCat

to find books on your topic
to find periodicals you've identified as having articles on your topic

Use article databases

to identify article and essay content on your topic
to identify research focused on an aspect of a topic
to identify current research

... subject specific ones

for publications from a specific discipline
- history, literature, gender & women's studies, etc.
America: History and life (US, Canada) and Historical Abstracts (rest of the world)
are two recommended databases for historical research
- can limit to results that focus on a time period
- can refine search to specific types of publications
- can limit by language
- use UC-eLinks to locate result text
MLA is a recommended database for literary criticism
- can limit by type of publication
- can limit by language
- use UC-eLinks to locate result text

... general (interdisciplinary) ones

Academic Search Complete
- popular and scholarly content (good for popular culture topics, magazine/news content in addition to academic journals)
- some results available online
- has UC-eLinks feature
Google Scholar
- strength is scholarly journal literature
- use UC-eLinks to get full text
  
  however... you must enable UC-eLinks in Google Scholar
  [via Settings gear > Library links]
JSTOR
- scholarly journals
- full text resource
- use advanced search (to narrow to specific discipline, and set limits)

Other resources: subject encyclopedias

to get background on a topic and/or biographical information on a person
Link path = Library homepage > Electronic Resources > By Subject link > your subject > use left sidebar to link to types of resources for that subject.

For literature, try the following encyclopedia:
Literature Resource Center
- for biographical data, use Author Search
  (in tabbed results see biographies)
- criticism included for some authors (but content is limited)

Finding literary analysis

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:19:55 -0700

Using an appropriate article database is a must for identifying articles or chapters on a topic:
- Very specific searches (specific focus about a specific character in a specific work) may not net the desired results. It's worth trying for a direct bullseye, but you may need to adjust your aim.
- Search for analysis about the book, play, etc., being written about. You'll see what others are focusing on. You may find they use other terms for your focus, that can be searched to increase your result pool.
- Search for analysis about the author of the book, play, etc., being written about. Your focus may be a thematic/technical element that shows up repeatedly in their work. Materials that focus on authorial concerns may include information about your work, or be relevant to your analysis of it.

If the overall goal is to find analysis of an author's ideas and influence, and he/she is a philosopher, theologian, psychologist, visual artist, etc. -- you may also wish to explore recommended databases for associated subject areas.
In addition to looking for articles, if books have been written about your author/work, examining the table of contents and indexes of promising titles may help isolate chapters of relevance.
When using the library catalog, try adding the term criticism to searches for materials about an author, literary movement, or time period (see OskiCat search tips, in this tab, for examples).

Extra tips for finding historical background

tdilwort@library.berkeley.edu (Tim Dilworth) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:57:20 -0700

Not already knowldegeable about the time period, social or cultural background? Consider starting with an encyclopedia entry.
Journal articles tend to focus on specific aspects of a specific topic. If you are looking for a broad overview of a historical time or social situation, books might be the ticket:
- their table of contents and indexes will help you isolate the parts of interest
- OskiCat will help you locate books at UCB
- Some article databases also contain results for books/book chapters in addition to articles in their subject
  - America:History & Life and Historical Abstracts are two such examples