“Library Survivor”

In order to survive in today’s information age, students must know about information literacy. Information literacy requires you to have skills that go beyond knowing how to use computers. You must apply critical thinking skills such as understanding when and what information is needed, and how to access, search, retrieve, use, and evaluate that information. 

Explore the Library “Jungle” and be a “Survivor” - Part I

At a recent American Library Association conference, a group of academic librarians were polled on what they thought the top five skills students should learn in the library. They were (in no particular order):

· To recognize the difference between a scholarly journal and a popular journal.
· To recognize the difference between a subscription database and a general search engine, such as “Google.”
· To know how to search the library catalog.
· To know the difference between the library catalog and the databases.
· To know the contact information for the librarian.

Part I will discuss the first skill – how to recognize the difference between a scholarly journal and a popular journal, which are both considered “periodicals,” a word used to describe both of these items.

Simply put, a “popular journal” is another term for “magazine,” and it is something you might read for leisure or in connection with a hobby. For example, Newsweek, Parents, Rolling Stone, and Glamour are magazines that the library has.

According to The Research Process, magazines are meant to appeal to a broad range of readers. They tend to have short articles in easy-to-ready language, they focus on current issues, and they are published weekly or monthly.

A scholarly journal usually has a focus on a particular academic or subject area. Articles are research-oriented, are often longer and more involved than in magazines, and are written by experts in the field or scholars.

Journals are often published less often than magazines, perhaps quarterly (four times a year). Some examples of journals that the library has are the American Journal of Nursing, ASHRAE Journal, Child Development, and Learning Disability Quarterly. Often, journal titles will have the word “journal” in it!

Here at ASCL, we have magazines and journals available in print form for you to come in and read. We have current and back issues. Periodicals can also be found on our website in e-journal (electronic journal) format. To access these, go to the library website, click on the “Journals” link under the “Resource” heading

Also, articles from magazines and journals are available on our databases. To access them, go to the library website, and click on “Electronic Resources.” If you are accessing them from home, you will need to click on “Remote Access” and have the appropriate username and password – contact library staff for that information. “General Reference Center” and “InfoTracOneFile” are two good databases to start your research and they offer articles from a variety of periodical sources.

Yet another resource for periodicals we have is microfilm and microfiche, which can be read using a special machine. We have current and back issues of the newspapers The New York Times, The Herald, and The State on microfilm (which comes on a roll), and a variety of current and back issues of periodicals on microfiche (which is flat). Also available on microfiche is the Daily Congressional Record.

Look for more information soon about the other library skills listed above!

The library’s “Library Survivor” game is a fun way to learn more about information literacy. Try any question below and see how well you do!

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3