Lesson Notes: Locating Information PDF

Lesson Notes: Locating Information Lesson Title: Locating Information Objective: To understand and utilize various tools and techniques for locating relevant and reliable information from diverse sources. 1. INTRODUCTION TO LOCATING INFORMATION Importance:  Essential for conducting thorou...

Lesson Notes: Locating Information Lesson Title: Locating Information Objective: To understand and utilize various tools and techniques for locating relevant and reliable information from diverse sources. 1. INTRODUCTION TO LOCATING INFORMATION Importance:  Essential for conducting thorough research.  Helps in finding high-quality, relevant, and credible information.  Supports academic success and informed decision-making. 2. LIBRARY CATALOGS 2.1. LIBRARY CATALOGS:  Systems that list all materials available in a library.  Includes books, eBooks, journals, multimedia, and other resources. 2.2. TYPES OF CATALOGS 1. Author Catalogue. A formal catalogue, sorted alphabetically according to the names of authors, editors, illustrators, etc. 2. Subject Catalogue. A catalogue that sorted based on the subject. 3. Title Catalogue. A formal catalogue, sorted alphabetically according to the article of the entries. 4. Dictionary catalogue. A catalogue in which all entries (author, title, subject, series) are interfiled in a single alphabetical order. This was a widespread form of card catalogue in North America librariesprior to introduction of the computer-based catalogue. 5. Keyword catalogue. A subject catalogue, sorted alphabetically according to some system of keywords. 6. Mixed Alphabetic Catalogue Forms. Sometimes, one finds a mixed author/title, or an author/title/keyword catalogue. 7. Systematic Catalogue. A subject catalogue, sorted according to some systematic subdivision of subjects. Also called a classified catalogue. 8. Shelf list Catalogue. A formal catalogue with entries sorted in the same order as bibliographic items are shelved. This catalogue may also serve as the primary inventory for the library. 1 2.3. USING LIBRARY CATALOGS:  OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog): An Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is a digital tool that libraries use to help people find and locate books, articles, and other materials within their collections. This system has changed the way people find information in libraries, moving from the old card catalog system to a new online search system.  OPACs do more than just help people find what they’re looking for in the library; they also give detailed information about each item, such as if it’s available, where it’s located in the library, and its call number.  Some more advanced OPAC systems even let people reserve items, get direct access to online materials, and see their loan history. 2.4. HISTORY OF OPACS Online Public Access Catalogs have significantly impacted archival research methodologies. OPAC library systems started in the 1960s and 1970s with simple systems mainly used by universities and research institutions. These early versions were a big change from the old card catalogs and set the stage for better systems. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, OPACs became easier to use, and more people could access them. Libraries began using commercial systems to manage their collections digitally, moving away from the traditional card catalogs. This allowed people to search for books and other items on computers. From the 1990s to now, OPACs have gotten even better, thanks to the Internet. They now have advanced search options, can be accessed from anywhere, and work with online libraries and resources. This growth shows how libraries are moving towards managing information digitally and making sure everyone can access their collections easily. Today, OPAC library systems stand as a testament to how technology can open up access to knowledge for everyone. 2.5. HOW OPAC WORKS Understanding the OPAC meaning helps in appreciating how it acts as a digital bridge, linking users to a library’s collection via an online search system. 2 THIS MEANS THE FOLLOWING FEATURES AND BENEFITS:  Digital Access:  Allows online searches for library materials.  Search Capabilities:  Allows searches by author, title, subject, or keywords.  More advanced OPAC library systems offer Boolean and keyword searches for precision.  User Interaction: User interaction in cataloged research is streamlined.  Displays detailed information, including availability and location of materials. Offers direct access to online materials.  Users can reserve items that are currently checked out.  Sometimes even allows users to leave reviews or ratings.  Library Management:  Makes it easy for librarians to handle the collection.  Facilitates adding new items and updating their status.  Provides insights into how often materials are checked out to improve services.  Technical Infrastructure:  OPAC library systems use robust database management systems (DBMS) for efficiency.  Integrates with the library’s main management system for seamless and real- time information.  2.6. TYPES OF OPAC 1. Stand Alone OPAC  Early version of library catalogs.  Used on dedicated computers inside the library.  Allow searching the catalog from specific locations within the library.  Less common now but important for the development of newer systems. 2. Web-based OPAC  Web-based OPACs epitomize the online public access catalog website by offering remote access.  Enable accessing the library catalog over the Internet.  Can be used from anywhere with Internet access.  Features include easy-to-use interfaces and advanced search options.  Often integrated with other library services for a better user experience.  3. Integrated OPAC  Part of a larger library management system.  Offer a unified experience for users and library staff.  Combine catalog searching with other functions like borrowing and managing resources.  Aim to make library operations smoother and improve access to various resources. 3 2.7. ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOG SOFTWARE OPAC Type Key Features Software Koha Open Source  Leading system for managing libraries.  Allows for easy search and management of user accounts.  Links to online resources. Evergreen Open Source  Designed for scalability, ideal for consortia and large libraries.  Robust organization and lending features.  User-friendly with ways to make it your own. SirsiDynix’s Commercial  Complete system for bigger libraries, with Symphony powerful tools for searching and customization.  Integrates smoothly with electronic resource management.  Suits academic and large libraries. Ex Libris’s Commercial  Integrates various library tasks into one system. Alma  Powerful search and customization functions.  Focused on the needs of universities and big libraries. OCLC’s Global  An online public access catalog website that WorldCat cooperative connects users to a worldwide catalog of library Discovery collections.  Makes it easy to discover library materials in different places. 2.8. SEARCHING FEATURE OF OPAC: The searching feature of an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) offers two main types of search options: 1. Simple Search: The simple search functionality in an OPAC allows users to conduct straightforward searches based on specific elements such as author, title, class number, or keywords. Here’s an explanation of how each element works within the simple search:  Author: If the user knows the author’s name, they can enter the author’s last or complete name in the search bar. The system will then retrieve items written by that particular author.  Title: Users can search for documents by typing keywords from the title. It is common to omit initial articles (e.g., “The,” “A,” “An”) when searching by title. The OPAC system may also offer suggestions as users type, alphabetically providing a list of titles. 4   Class Number: When users possess knowledge of the class number assigned to a specific subject, they can search based on the class number. This type of search is useful for conducting an exhaustive search within a particular subject area.  Keyword: Many modern OPAC systems incorporate a keyword search option, which provides more flexibility in accessing bibliographic records. Users can enter a single word related to the author’s name, title, subject, abstract/content, or other database details. Keyword searching allows users to create simple searches using a single term and can be combined with other search elements for more precise results. 2. Complex Search: The complex search option in an OPAC involves using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine search queries and retrieve more specific results. Here’s an explanation of how each operator functions within a complex search:  AND Logic: When two terms are connected using the logical operator AND in a search strategy, the system will retrieve items that contain both terms in the title or abstract. This narrows the search results, increasing specificity and ensuring that only relevant documents are listed.  OR Logic: The OR operator allows users to search for documents using alternate terms. If two terms are connected using OR logic in a search strategy, the system will retrieve items containing either terms in the title or abstract/content. This expands the search results, providing more options for users.  NOT Logic: The NOT operator excludes particular terms from search results. When the NOT operator is used in a search strategy, the system will exclude documents that contain the specified term. This helps users refine their search by eliminating irrelevant materials. Users can combine multiple search terms and operators by utilizing complex search options to create more sophisticated and precise searches. These operators provide a way to refine and filter search results, allowing users to retrieve the most relevant documents based on their information needs. 3. DATABASES Collections of articles, papers, and other resources often focused on specific subjects or disciplines that can be general or specialized. 5  Depending on the database you are using, articles may be displayed in different formats:  Citation: Includes only the article citation (i.e., author, title, date, etc.). Neither an abstract nor the full-text of the article are available.  Abstract: Includes the citation and a summary of the article's content. It does not include the full-text article.  Full-text: Includes the citation and full-text article. This may be in HTML,.pdf, or both formats. 3.1. GENERAL DATABASES  Academic Search Complete. It offers an enormous collection of full-text journals, providing users access to critical information from many sources unique to this database. Content for STEM, social sciences, humanities and more.  Credo Reference. Easy to access reference resources from encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographies, quotations and more.  eBook Central (ProQuest). Over 250,000 eBooks in a variety of academic subject areas.  Gale eBooks. A database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.  Learning Express. Test prep for career exams and college entrance, skill building, job searching and resume building. Resource includes both interactive testing and eBooks.  Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints Provided by MeL This link opens in a new window Contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues.  ProQuest Central: The largest single periodical resource available, bringing together complete databases across all major subject areas. 6  Reference Ashikuzzaman, MD. (2023). Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). Library and Information Science Network. https://www.lisedunetwork.com/online-public-access- catalogue-opac/ Kaliyaperumal, K. (1998). A study of users attitude towards online public access catalogue. http://hdl.handle.net/10603/78128 Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). Techopedia. Pamana City. Retrieved October 05, 2024, from https://www.techopedia.com/definition/online-public-access-catalog-opac Sadaf, Faria (2009) Application and utility of OPAC in Maulana Azad Library, A.M.U., Aligarh. [PhD thesis]. http://ir.amu.ac.in/id/eprint/3218 7