1	Library Resources for Radiation Therapy Students
2	Today’s Objective: Become familiar with the Library and the Electronic Resources Know how to get research assistance Gain skills to search databases for articles & literature reviews Field searching Boolean operators Limit features How to find useful databases to search
3	For Today: Discuss the research search strategy Examine useful electronic resources for Radiation Therapy Two activities: Search databases Library Jeopardy
4	Journal Article Citation: A Review Author (s) Article Title Journal Title Volume # (Issue #) Page # Date
5	Tips for your search strategy Know what you are looking for Describe your topic with keywords Find out if the database has specific headings that might better define your topic. Most databases have a subject thesaurus or controlled vocabulary (like MeSH for MEDLINE).
6	Search Tips (Continued) Formulate your search by breaking your topic into variables Example: What are the adverse effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer patients? Tip: You do not have to search every word.
7	Search Tips (Continued) Create search statements using Boolean operators AND narrows a search example: breast cancer and radiation therapy OR broadens a search example: Neoplasms or cancer NOT excludes terms from a search example: breast not prostate
8	Search Tips (Continued) Combining terms
9	Search Tips (Continued) Truncation Truncation symbols or wildcards or plural searching examples: , #, !, ?, + Truncation allows you to search for terms with multiple endings, like plurals. e.g. diabet searches for diabetes, diabetic e.g. student* searches for student, students Wildcard takes the place of one character, like wom#n (for women or woman)
10	Search Tips (Continued) What to do if you get too much? Limit options Field searching, e.g. subject headings Special modifiers Combine searches or add more concepts What to do if you get too few? Eliminate concepts Related articles (PubMed) Cited references
11	Search Tips (Continued) Once you figure out what type of Information you need, you have to choose the best place to find it.
12	A Good Place to START is the Library’s Electronic Resources
13	Finding Articles Use a research database (because articles are not always available on the “free” Internet) by selecting Find Articles on the Library’s Electronic Resources page http://www.csulb.edu/library/eref/eref-index.html Library pays for your access – you just need a library pin Search databases to find citations to help you locate the article
14	Some Useful Databases by Topic Note: use the info or instructions links for more information Health / Medical / Nursing CINAHL – Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature MEDLINE PubMed PsycInfo Academic Search Elite ScienceDirect
15	Finding Articles (continued) Search database and evaluate results Resources need to match your instructor's requirements Resources need to be relevant to your topic Find full text using the citation Check SFX Check COAST Get from llliad InterLibrary Loan if needed Online form in COAST Free Usually receive in 5 to 7 days
16	When you click on the SFX icon….
17	…SFX box pops up
18	…SFX box - there may not be access Can use ILLiad (if you have time!)
19	Academic Search Elite Magazine & journal articles SFX enabled Interdisciplinary or many subjects Some full text articles
20	CINAHL Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature Is web accessible – even at home! (but only 8 simultaneous users) Contains citations and sometimes abstracts & full text from scholarly nursing & allied health journals, book chapters, government documents, dissertations, etc. Some records include the cited references
21	MEDLINE Uses MeSH Has SFX feature Indexes medical, nursing & dental journals
22	PubMed Includes MEDLINE (MeSH) no SFX Related articles Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT “FREE” www.pubmed.gov (topic) AND free full text[sb]
23	COAST CSULB Library catalog Search for books, e-books, journals, government documents, reserves View My Library Record Get materials from other libraries Use Link+ to get books from 30+ libraries Get Library PIN number to connect from home Click on “View My Library Record” and follow the directions If you have problems with your PIN – visit the Circulation Desk
24	Dissecting your database Answer the following: What is the default search field and how do you switch to other types? Are there any limit options? What is the truncation symbol? Does it have SFX? Is there a Help link?
25	Useful Citing Sites to avoid plagiarism Style Manuals & Citation Methods http://www.csulb.edu/library/eref/vref/style.html North Carolina State Citation Builder http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/lobo2/using/cite/cite3a.php (free site to create citations for journal articles, books, web sites, and interviews into APA style) Slate Citation Machine http://www.landmark-project.com/citation_machine/cm.php (free, experimental web tool that formats your reference into APA style)
26	Thing you need to do to get access from your home Establish a Library PIN Special note: if you have AOL you must minimize their browser and use one of these browsers to use the databases
27	This box will pop up when you click on a research database from home:
28	Need Help? . . .Research Help? Your Subject Librarian Eileen Wakiji, ewakiji@csulb.edu 562- 985-7817 Reference Desk M-Th 9 AM to 9 PM; F 9 AM to 4 PM Sat 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sun 12:30 – 5:30 PM Chat with a Librarian 24/7 http://www.csulb.edu/library/247ref.html Online Library tutorial http://www.csulb.edu/library/tutorial/
29	Ready for Library Jeopardy?