Labels

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

ETL401 Mod 1: Using the library and databases


This is a little out of order as I forgot to post this here when I was doing module one. 

Like Maria Moy, I too graduated from university in 2009 and was having to use library databases in my course, especially once they started to turn the old libraries into 'learning hubs'.
I found the fact that there are so many databases to try a little annoying, one specific book I was looking for turned up after I had almost given up on my thirds or fourth database. It is good that there is such a large variety, but it is a hindrance for the same reason. '[I]t should not take more than three clicks to get useful information, as users quickly tire of looking and give up'. This was Latham and Poe (2008) discussing the selection of website for use, but I think this statement could easily apply to databases too. If databases become too numerous or complicated students are more likely to give up and seek information elsewhere. The databases themselves (Promo Search, EBSCOhost and Informit online) are quite easy to navigate and it is relatively easy to refine searches in each individually.
I have already started to use the CSU libraries borrowing system and received my first book in the mail a week ago. I also requested a scan from a book, however that has not yet been received.
I agreed with you Deborah Plater, I also tend to be the type of person to print of the material, I find it very hard to read online as I tend to scan rather than read. I hate the excessive waste of paper I am making but I am so used to being able to highlight and annotate course material and have it spread around me for easy access when writing essays.


Latham, B., & Poe, J. (2008). Evaluation and selection of new format materials : electronic resources. In Kennedy, J., Vardaman, L. & McCabe, G.(Eds.), Our new public, a changing clientele : bewildering issues or new challenges for managing libraries (pp. 257-265). Westport, Conn. : Libraries Unlimited.

Deborah Plater,  (2013, March 12). Group 6- surnames Moy - Quinn, Topic 1 forum, ELT 401
Maria Moy, (2013, March 9). Group 6- surnames Moy - Quinn, Topic 1 forum, ELT 401

No comments:

Post a Comment