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Information Literacy and Research Guide - Locating Information |
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Briggs Library Information Formats and Locations The Library Catalog (South Dakota Library Network Catalog) is used to determine the location of books, periodicals, and media resources in Hilton M. Briggs Library. Help and instructions for searching the Library Catalog can be obtained by clicking on the help icon on each page while searching. Books and media resources are arranged on the shelves according to the Library of Congress classification system (call numbers). For more information, or for search assistance, stop by the information desk or e-mail a reference librarian. Newspapers, like journals and magazines, are a type of periodical. Periodical indexes allow you to find articles from newspapers. A search of a periodical index results in citations. Citations identify the actual articles. In general, there are three kinds of newspaper indexes you can use to find citations for newspaper articles:
The Internet offers the most current sources of information in the form of online newspapers, online periodicals and online news services. Listed below are some electronic resources used to locate newspaper articles. Many of these resources will not have information on newspapers prior to 1980. To find information in newspapers prior to 1980, ask at the Information Desk for assistance. Our Reference collection contains indexes to several U.S. newspapers. Older issues of these newspapers may be available on microfilm in the Briggs Library.
Remember to ask a librarian if you cannot find the information you need. So, you're going to brave the Internet? You may already know that a variety of information is available via the Web - from the good and the bad, to the just plain ugly. But, did you know that there are actually different kinds of search engines? And, do you know which kind is the best starting point for your search? Whether you are a first time surfer or a would-be pro, it's always a good idea to review some search tips and strategies before jumping head-first into the Internet wave. See below for more information. Internet subject directories are compiled by a human editor who selects and organizes the sites into subject categories and subcategories. Many search engines also include a companion subject directory. The number of sites listed for a given subject is limited in number, but listed sites will be related to the topic. Subject directories are good starting points for information on broad topics. Listed below are a few examples of Subject Directories:
Each Internet search engine sends out "spiders" that travel the Web noting the contents (usually words contained in pages) of the sites they visit. The information is then compiled into a searchable database. When you using a search engine, it is the database that is searched and not the actual Internet. The "spiders" only visit a certain percentage of the millions of sites on the Web. The sites that are visited vary from search engine to search engine, as does the way in which the respective engines organize the information they find. As a result, there are significant differences between the various search engines. Look below for a selected list of search engines:
Meta Search Engines combine the top results from two or more search engines into a single result list for the query you enter. Because Meta Search Engines provide a sampling from multiple search engines, they are useful to get a general idea of what is available on the Internet for a particular topic, and to identify which search engines might be more useful for a particular query. Listed below are examples of Meta Search Engines.
Each Internet search engine has its own bag of tricks. You should always consult the "Help" or "Advanced Search" screens on each engine to find out what they can do for you - you might be surprised! Listed below are some tips and tricks that may help:
Contact Information: Hilton M. Briggs Library, SBL 2115, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007-1098,
Phone:
605-688-5570, Fax: 605-688-6133,
Email Us |
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