Search Strategy: Successive Fraction

(Competency #6 : Search Strategy)

Successive Fraction Strategy
This strategy is the opposite of the snowballing approach. Instead, a search is conducted using a broad term, and narrowed down with use of limiters, Boolean operators, and a second facet.

Database: WorldCat
Topic: What kinds of online adult programming are other public libraries offering?


The broadest facet in this topic is “adult programming”. Other terms that will help narrow results are “online” and “public libraries”. Below is a list starting with the broad term and two facets to narrow results. Last, I limit what is retrieved to list only books.
1. KW: adult program*
Results: 43,056!

2. KW: online
Results: 484

3. KW: public librar*
Results: 16

4: Limiter: Books
Results: 6 items

Of the six items retrieved through use of this strategy, I was able to locate one item useful to my topic:

Libraries without walls 4 : the delivery of library services to distant users : proceedings of an international conference held on 14-18 September 2001, organized by the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM), Manchester Metropolitan University.

Peter Brophy; Shelagh Fisher; Zoë Clarke

2002

English Book 299 s.

London : Facet Publishing, ; ISBN: 185604436X 9781856044363

Lifelong learning is becoming a reality throughout the world, requiring that learning opportunities and materials are delivered to citizens in their locality, at home or at work. Increasing numbers of students are undertaking distance education programmes and libraries are being called upon to find innovative ways to support distance learners. Developments in technology are creating new possibilities for document delivery and the distributed virtual library....

Search Strategy: Specific Facet First Approach

(Competency #6 - Search Strategy)

 Specific Facet First Strategy
In the specific facet first strategy, the most unique term is used to conduct the first search adding other terms and checking the results to determine what gives the best results. This strategy has similarity to the building block approach.
Database: Library Literature
Topic: How to plan for and implement a chat reference service at the public library?
The most unique term identified in this topic is “chat reference” (a phrase rather).

1. Using the basic search function the terms “chat reference” retrieved 155 records.
2. To focus my search, other “unique” terms from the topic are plugged in one by one to refine my results. Terms: plan, implement, public library
3. The next unique term, and most important, is “public librar*”. To add in my search string, I have selected to modify the original search. This came up with a total of 19 records.
4. The last term, “implement*”, is also truncated to retrieve results containing implement, implementing, implementation. The final results show 3 records; one with promising information.



Ward, J. (2003). "Going It alone: Can a small/medium-sized library manage live online reference?". The Reference librarian (0276-3877), (79/80), p. 311.



The use of this strategy is straightforward and easy to use because of its similarity to the building block strategy which is very simple to conduct.

The Library of Congress: Digital Preservation

(Competency #10 : Internet)

Using Google's search engine, I typed in different combinations of keywords with hopes of finding an alternative site to Library of Congress, but none were found. Keywords included: digital preservation, preservation tools, preservation materials, preserving digitally, etc.

With kw: digital preservation, The Library of Congress > Digital Preservation website was listed as the number one result. Others listed in the top ten were organizations (universities, companies, etc.) and those with blogs on the subject that have not been updated in the last year or two. I've decided to list LC's Digital Preservation website. LC DP provides newsletters, access to digital collections, a list of tools and partners, publications, podcasts, and the list goes on. This by far has been the most useful (up-to-date) website with a chock full of helpful links, information, and resources.

 http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/

Multimedia - The Museum of Lost Formats

(Competency - Multimedia)

These images were retrieved from http://www.slowpokecomics.com/. The first image covers the evolution of devices that were used to preserve information: from the binary slab, floppy, cd-rom, to the jump drive. Essentially the devices used to save information are becoming more compact than the previous with increasing storage space.

The second image I thought was pretty funny. This image portrays Google's take over of people's lives through video/imaging and even beyond on other planets.

The last image depicts the lifestyles we are beginning to see of people who are involved with social networking and the web 2.0. The notion that so many are increasingly spending time on these sites to keep up with life that life itself is being passed up. Hmmm...?

DIALOG - Command Search

(Competency: Module 8 DIALOG)

DIALOG- ERIC database
From reading people’s responses and reactions, I was a bit intimidated about logging onto DIALOG. The warnings of “don’t forget to logoff” begin to ring in my head leading me to think that I MUST create a script and understand DIALOG before logging in and running the cost up. Not knowing what to expect was helping me delay this mini-assignment. I had to read through the PPTs a couple a times before actually deciding to enter DIALOG for the first time.
I had to log in once before actually creating and entering my script. A few minutes on DIALOG made the difference in the world. I was ready to experiment with my script and see what the outcome would be.
My topic was originally on “the use of instant messaging or chat to provide a virtual reference to the public”. I constructed a script highlighting the terms to include in SS, but retrieved zero results in both ERIC and LIS. I was surprised with the recall being zero.
Instead, I constructed a script based on another topic: “library online tutorials for adults”
Commands:
1. B1
2. SS reference service or online tutorials or library instruction
3. SS librar?
4. SS distance education or adult education
5. SS# and SS# and SS#
6. Total results and cost

Below is a screenshot of my DS and number of items retrieved for each set.

Figure1: Display Sets – ERIC database


Sifting through the first 10 results, I found two possible candidates. However, I was not pleased with the other articles listed in the top 10. The script retrieved poor results. This may be due to my word choice and organization within the sets.


4. 9/8/4 DIALOG(R)File 1:(c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rts. reserv. 011938680 ERIC Number: ED503305
Education for a Digital World: Advice, Guidelines, and Effective Practice from around the Globe
2008 (20080000)
Descriptors: Educational Strategies; Learning Problems; Instructional Design; Management Systems; Copyrights; Media Selection; Online Courses; Quality Control; Program Effectiveness; Articulation (Education); Educational Technology; Computer Uses in Education; Developing Nations; Foreign Countries; Access to Education; Computer Software; Educational Planning; Student Evaluation; Teaching Methods; Educational Games; Teacher Effectiveness; Teacher Evaluation; Student Participation; Adult Education; Cooperative Learning

Identifiers: Ghana
Dialog Update Date: 20090921; 04:57:02 EST
ERIC (Dialog® File 1): (c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rights reserved.

9. 9/8/9 DIALOG(R)File 1:(c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rts. reserv. 0011692183 ERIC Number: ED501561
Online Education for Lifelong Learning
2007 (20070000)
Descriptors: Lifelong Learning; Distance Education; Second Language Instruction; Constructivism (Learning); Higher Education; Self Management; Early Childhood Education; Foreign Countries; School Community Relationship; Professional Development; Case Studies; Libraries; Adult Students; Instructional Effectiveness; Online Courses; Learning Theories; Computer Mediated Communication; Educational Change; Teacher Competencies

Identifiers: Turkey; Micronesia
Dialog Update Date: 20090921; 04:57:02 EST
ERIC (Dialog® File 1): (c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rights reserved.


Upon logging off DIALOG, the breakdown of my cost for using DIALOG was displayed:

Figure 2: Cost for command search-ERIC database

Search Strategy : Citation Pearl Growing

(Competency #6 - Search Strategy)


Pearl Growing Strategy
The citation pearl growing strategy, also known as ‘snowballing’, involves conducting a search and searching for terms/descriptors within the results that can be used in a modified search to improve recall. The terms/descriptors being looked for are also known as pearls.

Database: ERIC

Topic: How to create and distribute online tutorials on computers for patrons?
1. Search is conducted using only the terms identified in my topic: create and distribute, online tutorials, computers, patrons
2. Using the terms bolded above, I retrieved zero results. To improve my recall, I decided to remove “create and distribute” from my SS. “online tutorials, computers, patrons”

By doing this I was able to retrieve one hit:

Blake, L. (2009). On campus or out of town: How publishing online tutorials can help your patrons. Computers in Libraries, 29(4), 11-13,. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052

Using this article, I searched for pearls within the descriptors:

Library Services, Online Courses, Library Instruction, Reference Services, Instructional Design, Enrichment Activities, Tutorial Programs, Distance Education, Electronic Publishing, Adult Education

3. SS = (online tutorials OR library instruction OR tutorial programs) AND (computers) AND (patrons)

The recall was positive and really improved using the pearls identified from the article obtained from the first search. A total number of 39 articles retrieved. I reviewed the first 10 and was satisfied with them.

Further “pearl-digging” can be done to increase recall and even refine your search to achieve high precision.