Ask Librarian Alexis Becker for help.
Hours: Monday through Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Email: alexis.becker@dwu.edu
Office: McGovern Library 113
Question 13: Starting at the Library's Homepage search the library's catalog for a book you can find inside the library about South Dakota. Enter the title of the book and the URL link to the library's catalog record below.
Question 14: Using the search from above, find an eBook on South Dakota that can be downloaded and read. Enter the title of the book and the URL link to the library's catalog record below.
Question 15: The library catalog shows results for books and eBooks. What other types of resources are shown in the search results?
Vocabulary to Know
Catalog: a list of books and other materials in a library. Materials can be located physically within the library or digitally online.
Search Terms: the words or phrases searched (like what you would put into a Google search)
Limiters: filters used to narrow the number of search results presented. Common and useful limiters include date of publication, material type, full text, peer reviewed, and language.
Material Type or Resource Type: the format materials are presented in (for example book, eBook, journal article, photograph, etc.)
Permalink: a URL or web address that is always available to use and find (even if the webpage or information moves). Allows people to use a URL link without worrying it will be broken and not work in the future.
How to Search the Library Catalog
Catalog Search from the Library's Homepage
Catalog Search from the Advanced Search
Using Limiters to Find Materials
Searching Only Books
Finding the Permalink URL to Share and Save
To easily share and save a record from the library's catalog, copy and paste the Permalink located within the record.
Question 16: Go back to the library's homepage and find the A-Z Database List. Which databases are listed under "Popular Databases"? Select all that apply.
Question 17: Searching within the database Academic Search Premier, search "first year college students".
How many search results are there?
Question 18: Find an article that was published within the last 5 years (2015-2020). Type below the following: Title; Year/Date; Permalink
Vocabulary to Know
Database: collections of online academic journals that you can search for articles. Databases are often subject-specific.
Popular Database: databases that are frequently used by DWU students and professors.
Librarian Pick: a database that is recommended by a librarian for a specific subject. By beginning your search in a Librarian Pick database in your subject area will result in more usable search results appearing.
Finding the A-Z Database List
The McGovern Library provides access to over 100 databases for you to use. To find the full list of databases:
Go Directly to the A-Z Database List
Narrowing Your Database List Selections
Finding the right database to search within is a vital part of conducting research. There are several ways to narrow the list of databases to choose from.
Searching a Database (Academic Search Premier)
Each database is unique in the content it provides and the features it has, but most databases have the same basic search features. The search shown below looks at Academic Search Premier.
Accessing & Reading an Academic Article
Question 19: Go to the library's homepage and find the Research Guides and Other Information section. Click the "Research Help" tab and then click "Citation Guides". What does the guide say a citation is?
Question 20: What 4 citation styles does the Citation Guide talk about?
Tips & Hints
The Citing Sources guide was created to help create citations for your research papers and projects. This guide contains a home page that defines citations and discusses why citing sources is important, four tabs/pages looking at each of the four most commonly used citation styles, and a tab/page directing readers to online citation generators.
This guide provides an example of what a research guide looks like, and what information is provided by the library.
Additional Information
There are four types of guides that have been created by the library and provide information and resources to students and professors.
Subject Guides / Guides by Subject: Focus on specific subjects and majors.
Note: These guides are in the process of being updated and freshened up!
Course Guides: Created for a single class. These guides have been created to assist you in a specific class. (Just like this guide!)
Research Tools: Help with research specific topics such as citations, developing topics and keywords, and more.
Note: These guides are in the process of being created and updated!
Displays & Events: Created for book displays, special events, and holidays. These guides are fun and show off what the library has to offer (and provides additional outside information and resources).
Question 21: Go to the InterLibrary Loan Guide. What is an InterLibrary Loan and why would you request one?
Tips & Hints
Check out the "What is an ILL?" section of the guide.
Additional Information
InterLibrary Loans are available for all students to use. You can request materials through the library's catalog and databases. Physical materials (books, DVDs, etc.) usually take 5-10 days to arrive at the library. Digital materials (academic articles) usually arrive within 3 days.
Note: This guide is in the process of being updated. The look will change, but the information presented will stay the same.
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Contact us: McGovern Library | Ph. 605.995.2618 | Fax 605.995.2893 | 1200 W. University Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301