Bolner 1.docx

INTRODUCTION Since the last half of the twentieth century we have experienced what is commonly referred to as an "information revolution." The term refers to the transformation brought about by advances in computer and telecommunications technology. Every aspect of our daily lives has been affected...

INTRODUCTION Since the last half of the twentieth century we have experienced what is commonly referred to as an "information revolution." The term refers to the transformation brought about by advances in computer and telecommunications technology. Every aspect of our daily lives has been affected by these ad­ vances, but none more so than the way information is created, stored, accessed, and u,sed. This, in turn, has transformed America's libraries from being storehouses of knowledge to being participants in the information revolution. Although technology has increased the amount of information available and the way we access it, at the same time, it has added levels of complexity that require a more educated approach to finding and using information. To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize what information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively. This chapter will examine in­ formation sources that are available and help you utilize existing and newly emerging technologies to your advantage. LIBRARIES IN THE DIGITAL AGE The development of libraries from the stone to the digital age is part of the continuum of humankind's desire to ensure its immortality through the written word and to share its knowledge with future genera­ tions. The earliest libraries date from about 3000 BCE. They contained clay tablets painstakingly carved by hand with wedge-shaped instruments by the people of Mesopotamia. These early collections were mostly inventories of possessions and documents pertaining to government and commerce. The tablets were carefully preserved in the temple where they were guarded by priests. Tens of thousands of these still exist, preserved in museums 'throughout the world. The invention of papyri, parchment, paper, and the printing press marked the beginning of modern day libraries. In the early stages of library develop­ ment most collections consisted of books and manuscripts stored in museum-like buildings and available only to an educated elite. As information became more critical to economic development and political paiticipation, libraries assumed an importance extending beyond the realm of serving as storehouses for information. Libraries were no longer museums, but public institutions providing unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources. In its traditional sense, a library is a collection of books, manuscripts, and other media such as maps, microfilm, audio and video tapes, CDs, and DVDs that are housed in a building. Today there is a growing recognition that libraries extend beyond the physical walls of a building. Although traditional libraries continue to exist, we now think of a "virtual librai·y" where infmmation is collected, stored, and accessed electronically. The information seeker is not limited to a library building in order to find information. Anyone with access to a computer with Internet access, a tablet or a smart phone can tap into the riches of the world's information sources. According to ALA, access to information is the basis for a free society. "Freedom of expression is an inalienable human right and the foundation for self-government. Freedom of expression encompasses the freedom of speech and the corollary right to receive information. Libraries and librarians protect and promote these rights by selecting, producing, providing access to, identifying, retrieving, organiz­ ing, providing instruction in the use of, and preserving recorded expression regardless of the format or techno1ogy" (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybi11/interpretations). INFORMATION SOURCES Information is not only available in great quantities, but also in a vai'iety of formats. The term format re­ fers to the general physical quality or appearance of an information source. Thus, a book in print format refers to printed pages of paper that are bound together. The printed book is still the most extensive way that information is stored, and it is the source with which many of us are most familiar. Other formats, such as photographs, video tapes, CD-ROM, DVD (Digital VersatileNideo Disk), online databases, e-books, e-joumals, and information from the Internet are being used with increasing frequency. Un­ derstanding the formats of the various information sources will help to develop skills in the intelligent use of information sources and will result in a more effective use of the source. BOOKS The traditional book is printed on paper and consists of pages fastened together at one edge and covered with a protective cover. The first printed books had only a cover and the text of the work. There were no title or introductory pages as in modem books. As printing evolved, publishers developed a uniform way to arrange the contents of books that greatly enhanced their usability. The most significant features are discussed in Table 1.1. (Some books may not have all the different pa.its described, and the order of their appearance may vary.) E-BOOKS E-books are texts of books which are published in digital format and made available on the Internet. Many e-books are available for free, but others require a subscription. Most of thee-books that are free are books that are in the public domain; that is, they are not prohibited from publication because of copyright restrictions. This includes works published prior to 1923 and certain other works that are free of copyright limitations. Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/) has in excess of fo1ty thousand books freely available on the Internet; other free e-book sites include manybook.net and feedbooks. com. Databases such as EBSCOhost eBooks and ebrary provide a type of lending service for viewing rights to its e-books, usually through a subscription held by a library. Individual titles of e-books are also available from online bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and e-Reader. E-books can be viewed on a desktop (PC), laptop, or tablet computer, mart phone, or any other device that is spe­ cifically designed for reading e-documents. Although e-books will not make traditional printed books obsolete, they are growing in popularity. Chapter 1: Information Sources: Libraries and Beyond '-0ple BOOK COVER: Holds the pages of the book together and protects them. The edge of the cover where the pages are bound together is called the spine.The short-title of the book, the author's name, the publisher, and, in the case of library books, the call number are printed on the spine. The front of the cover is often decorated. It may also give the author's name and the short-title of the book. INTERIOR PAGES Preliminary Material Title Page: The first significant page in the book. It gives the following information: Tjt/e: The full title of the book, including any subtitles or descriptive titles. Author: The author's name and sometimes a list of credentials such as degrees, academic position, and, occasionally, the names of other works. Edition: Given if the book is other than a first edition. (All copies of a book printed from one set of type make up an edition. Reprints are copies of the same edition printed at a later time. When any changes are made, it is a revised edition or a new edition.) Imprint: The place of publication, the publisher, and the date of publication. These are usually found at the bottom of the title page although the publication date is sometimes omitted. Copyright and Printing Information The back of the title page contains the following information: Copyright: Legal rights granted to an author or publisher to sell, distribute, or reproduce a literary or artistic work. A small © before a date identifies it as the copyright date. Printing history: A list of different editions and printings of the work. Table of Contents A list in order of the chapters or parts of the book and pages on which they begin. Preface or Foreword Statement of the author's purpose in writing the book and acknowledgment of those persons who have helped in its preparation. Introduction Descriptions of the subject matter of the book along with a preliminary statement leading into the main contents of the book. List of Illustrations A list with page numbers of illustrative material in the book. Illustrations might include pictures, maps, charts. Text and Notes The main body of printed matter of the book. It is usually divided into chapters or separate parts. End Matter Glossary A list with definitions of the special words or unfamiliar terms used in the text, usually at the end of the text. Appendix Supplementary materials following the text such as tables, maps, questionnaires, or case studies. Bibliography A list of all books, articles, and other materials the'author used in writing the book. Index An alphabetical list of subjects covered in the book. Chapter 1: Information Sources: Libraries and Beyond One of the greatest advantages of e-books is that the content of individual works can be searched online (see Table 1.2 for other advantages). Imagine how much more effective and easier this can be than searching a printed index. Most of the Web sites that offer e-books also provide for word or phrase searching in individual titles. In late 2004, Google, one of the major search engines, instituted a project called Google Books (books.google.com) that included two facets: one to digitize the book collections of several of the world's major libraries and the other to digitize works directly from publishers. Google emphasizes that this is a search tool fore-books, and, except for non-copyrighted works and works for which it has permission to publish full text from the publisher, it does not provide the full text of books. After searching for a keyword or phrase then clicking on the book title, the user can retrieve info1mation about the book: the page location and context of the search tenn, where the book can be purchased, the name of the library where the book is available, previews of the book, as well as reference information such as book reviews, Web references, or maps. SERIALS A serial is a publication that is issued on a continuing basis at regularly stated intervals. The publication frequency varies: some serials are published each day (daily); others, once a week (weekly), every two weeks (biweekly), once a month (monthly), every two months (bimonthly), every three months (quar­ terly), twice a year (semiannually), or once a year (annually). Serials include periodicals (magazines and journals); newspapers; annuals and yearbooks; and the proceedings, transactions, memoirs, etc-. of societies and associations. o Periodicals are numbered consecutively and given volume designations so that several issues make up a volume. In many libraries, when a complete volume of a periodical has been accumulated, the issues are bound together in hard covers. These bound volumes may be shelved with other books by classification number, or they may be shelved in a separate periodical area. Some libraries acquire the current copies of periodicals in paper and the back issues on microform, Periodicals include magazines and journals that are issued at regular intervals, usually weekly, biweekly, monthly, bi­ monthly, or quarterly. Magazines contain popular reading, while journals are more scholarly. '-'o'oI e 1.2 The Advantages and Disadvantages of E-books Advantages There is no need to go to the library or the bookstore to retrieve a book. It is possible to download an entire book almost instantly. Many e-books include multimedia capabilities such as music, games, and interactive activities. Search engines make it possible to locate words or phrases from the book quickly and easily. It is possible to navigate from one section of the book to another quickly and easily-no more flipping back and forth · through pages to find certain chapters or sections. E-books are portable; it is possible to put many books on one small device. The print size can be adjusted to accommodate different user needs. E-books save paper and ultimately space in libraries or on home bookshelves. Disadvantages Some technical knowledge is required for downloading and using. Available publications are not yet as extensive as those in traditional formats. Not all e-books are free; many require subscriptions or fees to download. £-journals (electronic journals) are defined very broadly as those journals or magazines that are available over the Internet. The first e-journals appeared in the early 1990s and have proliferated at a phenomenal rate; currently there are thousands of journals and magazines available in electronic format and the trend for electronic publishing is expected to continue. Some of these are available exclusively online; others may have a print counterpart. Many libraries subscribe to e-journals and make them available through their home pages and in their online catalogs. The advantage of e­ journals is that users do not have to come to the library in order to read available articles; rather they can access the journals from their home or office as long as they have a valid authorization to get to the database. Newspapers are usually published daily or weekly. Since newspapers are printed on a type of paper that has a short life span, they are usually preserved on microfilm. The paper copies of newspapers are kept only until the microfilm copies arrive. Many newspapers are available on the Internet, some by subscription, others for free such as those listed at www.onlinenewspapers.com. Annuals and yearbooks consist of publications that are issued once a year on a continuing basis. These include proceedings, transactions, memoirs, statistics, fact books, etc. Most libraries shelve annuals and yearbooks in the reference collection, but they may also be shelved in the general collection. DISSERTATIONS AND THESES A dissertation is research that is conducted and written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the doctoral degree at a university. A thesis is a research project completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master's degree. At least one copy of the original of all the dissertations and theses written at a university is usually kept in the university library. Libraries may acquire disserta­ tions and theses from other universities or from a provider service on microfilm or online. A number of universities now belong to the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD.org), which requires students at member institutions to submit their theses or dissertations in a prescribed digital format. Theses and dissertations from all the member institutions are then available online for public access. ARCHIVES Archives consist of both unpublished and published materials that have historical value, such as the public and private papers of notable persons or the records of an institution. The format of archival materials var­ ies: for example, archives might include original manuscripts, letters, photographs, diaries, legal records, books, etc. The materials found in archives may be likened to the items one frequently finds in the attics of old family homes: birth and marriage certificates, letters, and newspaper clippings that tell that family's story. Archives require special care and handling, and it is not unusual to find that access is limited to only serious researchers. Archival materials may be preserved on microform, magnetic tapes, CD-ROM, DVD, and in digital form stored on computers. Many of the digitally stored materials are available over the Web. A notable example is the Library of Congress' American Memory: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library. It can be accessed at: memory.loc.gov VERTICAL FILE The vertical file (or pamphlet file) consists of pamphlets, brochures, newspaper and magazine clippings, pictures, maps, and other materials that are not suitable for cataloging and shelving along with the regular book collection. Vertical hie materials are usually stored in filing cabinets. The material placed in the vertical file is ephemeral in nature-that is, it has little, if any, lasting value and will soon be out-of-date. Therefore, the vertical file must be weeded, or cleared, from time to time to get rid of dated material. Much of the information kept in the vertical file might never appear in any other published form. Some libraries maintain a separate index of vertical file material. AUDIOVISUAL (A-V} MATERIALS Audiovisual materials include audio, video, and microform formats. Audio materials-musical and spoken records, audio cassettes, CD-ROM, and DVD. Video materials-microforms, video cassettes, slides, CD-ROM and DVD. Microforms-printed materials that are reduced in size by photographic means and that can only be read with special readers. There are several types of these photographically reduced materials. Microfilm is print that is reproduced on a roll of 35 or 16 mm film. Micro.fiche is a flat sheet of film, usually measuring four by six inches, on which separate pages of text are reproduced. ELECTRONIC SOURCES Information in electronic format is available in a variety of media-radio, television, video cassette, CD-ROM and DVD, etc. For the purposes of this discussion, electronic sources will be discussed only in the context of computer-assisted technologies. To access information in these formats one must have a computer and appropriate software. The kind of information available in electronic format includes bibliographic information such as descriptions of books, periodical articles, and other works; raw data (e.g., statistics, census data, vot­ ing records); the full text of periodicals, books, and reports; and illustrative material such as maps and photographs. Following are descriptions of the various electronic sources: Online catalog, also known as the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog), is a computerized version of the traditional card catalog; it lists all of the items housed in the library or available remotely through the Internet. The records are created in machine-readable format and are accessible by com­ puter both within and beyond the library walls. Online database is a term used to describe information in electronic format such as bibliographies, abstracts, full-text articles and books, images, statistics, etc., which is available through the Inter­ net. The information is created and managed by database management software that provides for searching and retrieval of the contents. Although some online databases are free, most are available to libraries on a subscription basis. For example, Sociological Abstracts is a subscription database to the literature in sociology and related fields; MedlinePlus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/) is a free database from the National Library of Medicine. Chapter 8 provides descriptions of some of the most highly used periodical databases. Internet is a global telecommunications network that links computers together by a unique IP (In­ ternet Protocol) address, and that allows for the exchange of information among them. The Internet contains all types of information: online catalogs, electronic journals, periodical databases, personal messages, and, in fact, any information that is computer generated can be found on the Internet. (For a full discussion of the Internet, see Chapter 5.) CD-ROM (Compact Disk, Read Only Memory) is a small (4.75 inches in diameter) plastic coated optical disk on which information can be stored. One disk is equal in contents to approximately 250,000 printed pages, or about 300 books. CD-ROM databases include indexes, census data, corpo­ ration records, encyclopedias, government documents, statistics, maps, journal back files, and other literary works. DVD (Digital Versatile Disk•or Digital Video Disk) is similar to a CD-ROM, except that it holds much more information-a minimum of 4.7GB (gigabytes) all the way up to 17GB, or enough for a full-length movie. DVDs have, to a large extent, replaced CD-ROMs, as well as VHS video cassettes. ARRANGEMENT OF LIBRARY MATERIALS Most libraries affange materials by function or by service provided. Typically, all the books are shelved together in what is called a stack area; non-book materials such as microforms and audio materials, are housed in other areas; and access services such as reference assistance, circulation, and interlibrary loan services are provided at specially designated service desks. Many libraries provide guides to their collections and services; others have self-guided tours; and still others offer a computer-assisted or "virtual" tour of the library. These provide a good starting point in learning where materials are located and how they are affanged. STACKS The library's main collection of books is arranged by call number on rows of shelves called stacks. Some libraries have "closed" stacks to which only library staff and those with permission have access. Patrons present a "call slip" to a library attendant who gets the material. Having closed stacks reduces the loss of library material by theft and mutilation. It also reduces the number of books that are out of order in the stacks. In most libraries, however, books are shelved in "open" stacks where users are free to browse and select materials for themselves. Browsing is helpful in locating materials that the user might not have discovered in the library catalog. Some libraries have a combination of the two systems-the general stack areas are "open" while special collections are "closed." In some college and university libraries, stacks are open to faculty and graduate students, but closed to undergraduates. The key to locating materials in the stacks or in other areas of the library is the catalog. When a library acquires a book or other information source, it is assigned a call number that determines where it will be located in the library. A catalog record is created that includes call number, author's name, title, publication information, and a note with descriptive information such as availability of maps, illustra­ tions, and/or bibliographies. The catalog record is placed in the library's catalog where it is available to library users. (See Chapter 4 for a discussion of the library catalog.) REFERENCE DEPARTMENT The reference collection consists of encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, manuals, and indexes that are frequently used for finding information. It also contains reference tools in other formats such as CD-ROM and DVD along with computers for accessing the Internet and specialized electronic databases. The reference department typically has open shelves that are systematically an-anged, although some mate1ials such as indexes may be shelved on separate index tables to facilitate their use. Highly used reference books may also be shelved in near the librarian's desk in an area usually called "Ready Refer­ ence." As a rule, reference materials do not circulate and must be used in the reference area. RESERVE DEPARTMENT The reserve department consists of materials that circulate for limited time periods, usually two hours or overnight. In many libraries, materials that can be copied, such as periodical articles and chapters or parts of books, are digitized and made available online. Students who are taking the courses for which the materials are reserved can access the materials through secured Internet accounts. PERIODICAL DEPARTMENT In many libraries periodicals (magazines and journals) are shelved together in one area for convenience of use. Other libraries have found that it is more desirable to have only the current periodicals in one area with the bound volumes in the stacks with other materials on the same subject. NEWSPAPER DEPARTMENT Current newspapers may be housed with other periodical literature or kept in a separate area. Print cop­ ies of newspapers are kept for a limited period of time because they are printed on paper that does not last. Older copies are usually stored on microfilm. MEDIA CENTER The audiovisual materials and the special equipment needed to access them are often housed together in a Media Center. Some libraries have separate departments for microforms (Microform Department) and for other types of audiovisual materials (Audiovisual Department). Other names for areas that house audiovisual materials are: Instructional Media Center, Instructional Resource Center, and Learn­ ing Media Center. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION DEPARTMENT Many university libraries serve as depositories for state, local, national, and international documents. These publications are frequently shelved together in a separate area. Some libraries locate state and local government documents in a documents room with national and international documents, but it is also quite common to house these materials in a distinct "state" room designed to preserve materials dealing with the particular state. Documents housed in separate areas are usually arranged by classi­ fication systems designed especially for those systems. For example, U.S. government documents are usually shelved by the Superintendent of Documents classification system. (See Chapter 9 for a discus­ sion of government information.) ARCHIVESAND MANUSCRIPTS DEPARTMENT The archives department houses records and documents such as letters, manuscripts, diaries, personal journals, photographs, maps, and other materials that are of historical value. This area is staffed by archivists who are specifically trained in methods of acquisition and preservation of historical materials. RARE BOOKS DEPARTMENT It is not unusual to find among the library's collections books that are valuable because of their artistic and/or unique qualities or because they are old and no longer printed. Such books need protection and care in handling. They are housed in rooms or in branch libraries and are not allowed to circulate. Some libraries house archives, manuscripts, and rare books together. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS In fulfilling its research mission, a library frequently has a number of highly specialized collections. The advantage of such collections is that they support the library's effort to become a center for research in particular subject fields. Examples of such collections might be African American history, women's studies, or Asian studies. BRANCH LIBRARIES In academic libraries, branch libraries are located away from the main or central library and house subject collections such as agriculture, business, chemistry, engineering, music, law, or architecture. Usually they are conveniently located in buildings that serve the needs of students and faculty in a particular discipline. Many public libraries, particularly those that serve a large geographic area, have auxiliary locations, usually called branch libraries, that provide library materials, services, and outreach to the public. LIBRARY SERVICES While the introduction of computer technology into information handling has resulted in more efficient and faster methods of storing and retrieving information, it has not eliminated the need for basic library services. The services outlined below are representative of services offered in most libraries. LIBRARIANS In order to acquire, maintain, and disseminate the vast amount of information that is stored in librar­ ies and on the Internet, trained librarians are needed. Most libraries require their librarians to have a master's degree or the equivalent from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited institution. Persons trained in librarianship or information sciences perform a variety of services: administrative, technical, and public. Administrators are concerned with the overall operation of the library and with the budget, staff, and physical plant. Technical service librarians are concerned with the acquisition, preparation, and maintenance of library materials. They are in charge of ordering and cataloging materials, checking in serials, send­ ing materials to be bound, repairing damaged books, and maintaining the online catalog. Public service librarians are those who serve the patron directly as at a reference or circulation desk. Reference librarians are available to answer questions about the collection, to assist in using electronic reference tools, to help with search strategies, and generally to help locate and sort out information. They also select materials for the collection and provide outreach and instruction for the students and faculty. Many reference librarians provide virtual reference services by responding to reference queries asynchronously via e-mail or text, or synchronously via instant messaging or video-conferencing. Other virtual reference services include social media such as blogs, Facebook, Pinterest, and links to reference sites on the Internet. GETTING HELP When reference librarians are approached for assistance with a question that involves research, whether in person or online, they conduct an info1mal reference interview to determine: purpose of the research; type of information desired (e.g., statistical, historical, etc.); specific questions to be answered (e.g., date, geographical, etc.); extent and findings of preliminary research. It is important to ask appropriate questions during the reference interview and to be as specific as possible. Example ) It is beneficial to conduct a preliminary search, such as searching the catalog, browsing the stacks, or looking up material in reference books, before approaching the reference desk for help. This enables you to focus on the type of information needed to deal with various aspects of the topic and then ask specific questions. It also gives the librarian a starting point from which to proceed in directing you to appropriate sources. ELECTRONIC REFERENCE SERVICES The library provides electronic reference services in a variety of ways: by acquiring and making available indexes and abstracts, reference books, and journals in electronic format; by identifying and providing access to free materials and services on the Internet; by providing workstations, usually with print capabilities for accessing electronic information; and by providing instruction and assistance in using electronic resources. LIBRARY INSTRUCTION Library instruction is a service usually provided by reference librarians. It might include formal (for credit) courses, general orientation sessions, subject-related instruction, computer-assisted instruction, and individualized instruction. The reference librarians also prepare printed and online guides to the collection and to sources available on the Web. CIRCULATION Books and other mate1ials are usually checked out from a centrally located desk that handles all matters dealing with the lending of library materials, which may include equipment such as laptop computers or tablets, that students can check out. Many tasks such as checking books out and in, verifying cir­ culation status, and sending out overdue and recall notices, once performed manually at the circulation desk, are now automated. INTERLIBRARY LOAN The rising costs of library operations and acquisitions have forced more and more libraries to seek cooperation with other institutions in order to serve their patrons. Libraries lend each other books and other materials that are unavailable at the local library. The loans are for limited periods, and the costs of borrowing material (postage, handling, and duplication) are generally borne by the patron. If a lend­ ing library does not circulate an item, it may send photocopies. Patrons borrowing books are required to fill out forms giving accurate and complete information on the item they would like to borrow. This usually includes the author, title, publication information and a reference showing where the citation was found. Interlibrary loan is for specific titles only and not for subject requests such as "all the works on the Cold War." DOCUMENT DELIVERY Document delivery is a library service that provides copies of materials from other libraries or vendors to users, usually for a fee. It is usually administered by the interlibrary loan department. In some librar­ ies, document delivery consists of the physical or electronic delivery of materials to the office or place of business of a library user. The term is also used to refer to "documents on demand." Rather than subscribing to costly, low-use journals, the library subscribes to services that promise fast delivery of the articles. One of the largest doeument delivery services is Ingenta (ingentaconnect.com). Ingenta is a database containing the full text of articles from thousands of journals. There is no charge to search the database, but if an individual or a library wants a copy of the article there is a charge, which in­ cludes the cost of reproducing and sending the article plus·a copyright fee. The articles are usually sent electronically to the individual or library requesting them. LIBRARY COOPERATIVES A practice that is prevalent among libraries today is that of forming cooperatives for the purpose of making holdings and services available to members and their patrons on a reciprocal basis. These groups are known by various names: library networks, information centers, or consortia. Some groups share general printed materials while others share specialized materials such as computing facilities, databases, periodicals, films, slides, and other audiovisual material. Regional and state library systems, in which libraries in a geographical area share resources, are widespread throughout the United States. There are also national library networks in which members from different libraries all over the country cooperate to share resources. OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) is a national network with a variety of services ranging from shared cataloging to bib­ liographic searching. Members of OCLC may use its services to handle requests for interlibrary loan material, to catalog materials, and to help identify and locate materials. Chapter I: Jnform.ation Sources: Libraries and Beyond