Library Orientation 14: Physical Resources
Overview
Part 14 of 15.
Introduces the library's physical resources. Includes outlines for an assignment and a quiz.
Welcome
You may want to put your contact information under "Resources."
Introduction
Even in our modern times, you may need a book. The information you need may only be published in a physical resource, your instructor may require it, or you might just want to feel a book in your hands.
There are lots of reasons libraries continue to collect physical resources. In addition to the above, sometimes the physical resource is more cost effective or significantly easier to use.
Module Objectives
- List physical resources available in the Shelton State Libraries.
- Successfully obtain a physical resource from the Shelton State Libraries.
- Create a single annotated bibliography entry based on an obtained physical resource.
Readings and Resources
Readings and Videos
Most of our library materials are searchable through the OPAC, or online library catalog. This makes the catalog a great place to go to find physical resources as well as eresources. (Exceptions: A to Z World Food, CQ Researcher, and most of the Alabama Virtual Library, all of which are covered in their own modules.)
Navigation to the OPAC from the library web page couldn't be easier. It's the first option on the tiled menu.
If you are interested in eresources, the OPAC will let you limit your search to eresources from our Ovid Nursing collection, Credo Reference, African-American History Online, Films on Demand, Salem Press, and some of the Alabama Virtual Library.
This video shows you how to find ebooks in the OPAC.
And this video shows you how to find media. The library has access to many educational and dramatic videos which can be helpful when trying to learn a concept or understand a piece of literature.
Print books, reserves, medical models, and other physical items are also searchable in the OPAC.
If you would like, you can turn on your borrowing history to keep track of what you have checked out over the course of the semester. Staff cannot see your borrowing history and at the end of the semester, it is wiped out. This is not retroactive and must be turned on every semester.
Assignment
Restricting the student to the assignment submission module in your course management software is a second option.
Introduction
- This assignment will illustrate your ability to utilize the physical collection to find an appropriate academic research resource.
- Completing this assignment will give you one piece of your final annotated bibliography. Submissions will be graded and corrected versions can be used in your final assignment.
Objectives
- Create an annotated MLA or APA citation for a resource you found in the physical collection.
Instructions
- Watch the videos and read the documentation in this module related to the physical collection.
- Navigate to EBSCOhost and search using the topic you chose in the discussion from Module 2.
- Select a resource that fits your topic and read or watch it.
- Using the citation tools provided, select the MLA or APA citation format and copy and paste the citation into the assignment. MLA or APA can be utilized, but be consistent. Use either MLA or APA consistently throughout this class.
- Write a brief paragraph that summarizes the resource.
- If you have trouble finding a resource, don't hesitate to contact your instructor.
Submission Requirements
This assignment can be submitted via email in the text of the message or as a PDF or MS Word attachment.
This assignment is worth 5 points.
2 points: Proper Citation Format
3 points: Annotation (spelling and grammar count)
Example
In your final document, the citation should have a hanging indent, as per the example of the final project. Different databases provide different citation styles, even within the database. Projects for subject-level courses will require you standardize your entries to suit the format that the instructor requires. For this project, you need only copy and paste the citation from the database.
MLA:
McNeil, Gil. The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club. 1st pbk. ed., Hyperion, 2010.
A quick fiction read that seamlessly weaves knitting into ideas of family and female friendship. Not my normal read, but a nice story about women supporting women in a time of need.
APA:
McNeil, G. (2010). The beach street knitting society and yarn club (1st pbk.). Hyperion.
A quick fiction read that seamlessly weaves knitting into ideas of family and female friendship. Not my normal read, but a nice story about women supporting women in a time of need.
Quiz
Change the instructions to fit your needs. Use the quiz module of your course management software to ask questions. Here are mine, but you will have to modify them to suit your own library requirements:
- The only physical resources available in the library are books. FALSE
- All books can be checked out and removed from the library. FALSE
- Books are shelved by the author's last name. FALSE
- The library has computers and printers that you can use. TRUE
- You can find a book if you know what color the binding is. FALSE
Introduction
This quiz will test your knowledge of the physical collection.
Objectives
- Confirm that you have retained key information about the physical collection.
Instructions
- There are 5 true-false questions.
- You have 15 minutes for this quiz.
- Please use the Chrome browser for best performance.
- Once you start the quiz, you must complete it; there are 2 attempts. You cannot save to return to later. If you log out, you cannot return to the quiz.
- The attempt with the highest score will be graded.