Understanding Library Resources: A Guide for Engineering and Computing Science Students

1. Library Workshop CMPT 781: Technical Communication Yolanda Koscielski Engineering, Computing Science and Criminology Librarian, Burnaby campus Spring 2013

2. SFU Library – Self-test • What is the difference between LibrarySearch, FastSearch, and the Catalogue? • How many databases does SFU Library subscribe to? eBooks? • Where can I find SFU theses/dissertations from the School of Computing Science? • What kind of financial support can the library provide to graduate students who are publishing?

3. Where to Search…?

4. Where to Search? • Library Search vs. Fast Search vs. The Catalogue…

5. Fast Search • Search for Books & Journal articles at the same time • Newspaper and magazine articles • Expand selection for all libraries’ resources

6. Fast Search • Contains 100% of our catalogue • Feature: quantity – wide range of results • But: few tools for topical refinement – use other sources • May need to use databases mapped to a disciplinary perspective

7. FastSearch • Subject Terms ≠ Subject Headings • Use with caution

8. Library Search Criminology 220

9. Library Search • Searches 100% of Fast Search content, (which contains 100% of the library’s catalogue) • Divides Fast Search content by info type – books & media, newspaper articles & more, journal articles • Additionally, includes: • Summit, the Institutional Repository • The library website – FAQs, Research Guides & other web pages • Course reserves

10. Finding books • Use: • Fast Search – limit by context-specific facet “book” • ebooks included • Catalogue • ebooks included • Key Feature: Subject Headings • Course Reserves Tab, e.g., CMPT 820

11. Finding books – Call numbers

12. Finding books – Call numbers • Library Catalogue • Call numbers • TK 301 R2207 2011 • TK 7885 R23 1992 • TK 7885 R5 2008 • TK 9401 R3 C2 2005 • Made up of a combination of meaningful numbers and “dumb” numbers • TK = Electrical Engineering; • TK 7885-7895 = Computer Engineering • R23 = Unique ID for SFU library • 1992 = Year of Publication • 1st number is read as a whole number, 2nd alpha-numeric portion is read as a decimal

13. Catalogue Searching • Start with keyword search • Identify a good title(s) and review its subject headings – a core strength of the catalogue • Redo search using subject headings • Good strategy for any research • Subject headings = topical terms from a controlled vocabulary, assigned by human, allows for subject collocation • Usually 3-5, but could be 2-7 for each item

14. Databases A few reasons to use databases: • Better for cycling a search, literature reviews • Subject searching vs. keyword searching • Helpful, reliable search limiters and high data quality • Mapped to a disciplinary perspective • Not all database articles are included in Fast Search

15. Databases A few reasons to use databases: • Better for advanced searching • Excellent for Boolean searching!

16. Recommended Databases Computing Science databases • ACM Digital Library • journals, magazines, newsletters and conference proceedings • Springer • Includes Lecture Notes in Computing Science • IEEE Xplore Digital Library • journal articles, conference proceedings, standards, and some ebooks • ArXiv Archive • Web of Science

17. Recommended Databases • Trade or popular articles: • CPI.Q, CBCA • Applied Science and Technology Index • Computer Source • A database of journals and magazines covering topics such as computer science, programming, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, information systems, robotics, and software Computing Science databases

18. Using databases …

19. Using databases …

20. Using databases …

21. ‘Where can I get this?’ links Full-text article

22. ‘Where can I get this?’ links? Or, use interlibrary loan! Full-text article

23. Google Scholar • Search from the library’s home page to avoid being prompted for payment

24. Popular vs. scholarly publications • Which is scholarly? • What are the differences between popular and scholarly publications?

25. Scholarly publications • PEER REVIEWED or REFEREED • Reports on original research (primary research) • Written by academics • Written for academics, researchers • Longer articles • Technical language, jargon • Always cites sources • Little to no advertising

26. Definition of a Scholarly Article: • Articles in scholarly journals are peer-reviewed* “Peer-reviewed journals are publications that include only those articles that have been reviewed and/or qualified by a selected panel of acknowledged experts in the field of study covered by the journal” --EBSCO • Also called peer-reviewed articles, refereed articles, scholarly articles *key criterion = peer-reviewed

27. Scholarly versus Popular • Informs or entertains • Sells products • Aimed at general public • Written by writers (rarely subject experts) • Brief articles • Simple, non-technical language • Rarely cites sources

28. Scholarly versus Popular Scholarly Journal Articles Popular Magazine Articles • Journal of the ACM • Audience: Academics • Writers: Unpaid scholars and researchers • Often visually boring with tables, charts but no advertising • Include abstracts and citations • Good for historical, current, scholarly, in-depth perspectives • Subject-specific jargon • Key criterion: peer-reviewed • Wired • Audience: General public • Writers: Paid, non-specialist • Colorful, graphics, advertisements • Does not include abstracts or citations • Good for broad overview and popular perspective • Accessible language

29. Scholarly versus Popular Do you know how to recognize academic articles when you see them? Is this article scholarly? Why/why not? • What are the differences between popular and scholarly publications?

30. This journal is peer-reviewed, but this article isn’t. Here is the complete article.

31. CMPT Theses • Digitial Dissertations • Finding SFU Theses (guide to finding) • Theses Registration System • 2010 + theses and dissertations (before being moved to the catalogue and institutional repository) • Catalogue • Full collection of SFU theses, with links to electronic versions, when available • Search by Theses School of Computing Science as “title”

32. Open Access Funding • SFU Open Access Fund • a central fund to support SFU authors who publish in Open Access journals that charge Article Processing Charges • Publishers of open access included: • BioMed Central • Hindawi Publishing • Public Library of Science • SAGE Open • Springer Open

33. Open Access Funding • What is open access publishing? • (Academic) Articles or books that are free to read on the open internet (no subscription required) • Benefits to publishing in open access journals

34. RefWorks • Citation Management Software • ACM style for numerous journals, e.g. Journal of the ACM • IEEE style • Works with LaTeX

35. Write your paper & cite your sources

36. Need Help? • The library provides many ways to get help: • In-person at the reference desk • Telephone • Email • Chat reference - AskAway • Txt Us • Research Commons • Yolanda Koscielski, Computing Science Liaison Librarian (Burnaby) ysk6@sfu.ca

37. Thank you! Yolanda Koscielski, Liaison Librarian for Engineering, Computing Science, and Criminology