LIS-S 533 Online Searching
3 credits
- Prerequisite(s): LIS-S 500, LIS-S 507
- Delivery: Online
- Semesters offered: Summer (Check the schedule to confirm.)
Description
Principles, methods, and techniques of advanced online information retrieval (IR). Characteristics of and search strategies for the use of bibliographic, referral, citation, fact, numeric, and full text databases and search systems. As a current or future information professional, you already know how to find information. Receding are the days when you needed to be fully aware of standard reference print resources for most of your information seeking — and you all have already had much experience in online searching with various tools. However, in this class you will be challenged to reconsider, change, or improve some of your online search habits. You will also be challenged to use all levels of resources, from basic ones that you may not consider difficult to the more challenging resources needed for demanding searches.
Program Learning Goals Supported
Instructors map their courses to specific LIS Program Goals. Mapped program goals drive the design of each course and what students can expect to generally learn.
- Connect Core Values and Professional Ethics to Practice
- Facilitate Engagement in the Information Ecosystem
- Innovate Professional Practice with Information Services and Technology
Learning Outcomes
Instructors develop learning outcomes for their courses. Students can expect to be able to achieve the learning outcomes for a given course after successfully completing the course.
- Assess principles for effective patron interactions and instruction
- Test appropriate free and subscription online resources as matches for various topics
- Propose effective source-specific controlled vocabulary, natural language, citation, and other strategies for searches
- Construct effective advanced, multi-step, and multi-type searches in OPACS, subscription databases, and major free databases, using a variety of interfaces
- Distinguish current and future trends in the indexing and retrieval of different types of information
Course Overview
Instruction is in Canvas. Lessons are organized into Modules whose length may vary.
Module 1: Overview of Online Searching
- Explore the advent and development of online searching
- Reflect on the concepts of editorial oversight and quality information
- Reflect on current understandings and learning goals
Module 2: Traditional OPAC vs Web-Scale Discovery System
- Discover how libraries structure their search interfaces and databases
- Identify important characteristics of OPAC's, WSD's and database hubs
Module 3: The Reference Interview
- Discover the critical steps in a reference interview
- Assess principles for effective patron interactions
- Describe the importance of the reference interview and the usefulness of negotiating the question
Module 4: Surrogate vs Source Databases
- Discover how to categorize databases based on genre/form, form of the retrieved results, and what is being searched
- Test appropriate free and subscription online resources as matched for various topics
- Identify examples of different database genres
Module 5: Pre-Search Preparation
- Discover the process of preparing to conduct a search
- Analyze a patron query by performing typecasting, facet analysis, and creating a logical combination
Module 6: Controlled Vocabulary in Subject Searches
- Construct effective searches in a subscription database using controlled vocabulary
- Construct effective searches in an OPAC using Library of Congress Subject Headings
Module 7: Free Text Searching in Boolean Systems
- Discover strategies for conducting expert free text searches including proximity operators, truncation and Boolean operators
- Conduct effective free text searches in a scholarly database
- Evaluate others' searches and discuss ways to improve results
Module 8: Free Text Searching in Extended Boolean Systems
- Discover how to construct expert searches using extended Boolean systems (like Google)
- Evaluate and compare search results from various types of extended Boolean systems
Module 9: Known-Item Searching
- Discover strategies for locating known items in various systems
- Implement successful search strategies for known items
Module 10: Metrics for Research
- Learn how to use various tools to assess the impact of published research
- Utilize Scopus, Google Scholar, and Journal Citation Reports to locate metrics for research
Module 11: Choosing a Search Strategy
- Discover how to use five different important search strategies
- Select an appropriate database for a topic and determine the appropriate search strategies to use
Module 12: Adjusting Your Search Strategy
- Discover advanced search tactics and when to use them
- Evaluate search results and adapt new search tactics to get better results.
Module 13: Examining the Tools and Features of a Database to Improve Search Efficiency
- Learn a nine-step technical reading process to determine a database's relevance and attributes
- Assess the relevance and usefulness of a subscription database
Module 14: Recognizing the User-Service Model in Online Searching Opportunities
- Discover what the entire searching process looks like in a library or information environment
- Reflect on learning and future goals
Module 15: Current and Future Trends in Online Searching
- Discover current trends and issues related to online searching
- Discuss the relevance of trends and issues
Policies and Procedures
Please be aware of the following linked policies and procedures. Note that in individual courses instructors will have stipulations specific to their course.