Course number 021-242; 2 semester hours; Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:20 p.m.; Aug. 22 - Dec. 12; Room 3092 LIB
 

Course text:

Walker, Geraldene and Janes, Joseph. Online retrieval: a dialogue of theory and practice. 2nd ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited; 1999. 312 p  (Database searching series).  Paperback $55
 

GENERAL READINGS
 

SCHEDULE
 

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION.   Readings for this unit

Aug. 22: Introduction.  Class notes.

Aug. 29: Read Walker & Janes, ch. 1: The search for information in the online age; ch. 2: Developments in information retrieval; ch. 3: Going online; ch. 4: Online information.  Class notes.
 

UNIT 2: DIALOG.    Readings for this unit

Sep. 5: Read Walker & Janes, ch. 5: Database construction and structure; ch. 6: Search technique.  Introduction to Dialog.   DialogWeb.

Sep. 12: Read Walker & Janes, ch. 7: Using controlled vocabulary.    DialogWeb Command mode.

Sep. 19: Read Walker & Janes, ch. 8: Searching using free text.    DialogClassic.

Sep. 26: Read Walker & Janes, ch. 9: Additional search features; ch. 10: Beyond the basic search.  Advanced Dialog.
 

UNIT 3: OTHER SYSTEMS.   Readings for this unit

Oct. 3: Lexis-Nexis.  Reading.     Class notes.

Oct. 10: Ovid   Class notes.    Silver Platter.     Class notes.
National Library of Medicine.  Class notes.    Reading.
Hand in: Portfolio part 1: Demonstration of Dialog searching.
Important: late submissions are not acceptable.

Oct. 17: Searching Legal databases: Westlaw etc.  Reading.  Class notes.

Oct. 24: Searching databases for company information.  Reading.  Class notes.

Oct. 31:  Citation databases; other types of database. Read Walker & Janes, ch. 11: Searching other kinds of databases.     Citation indexes / ISI.     EBSCO.    Dissertation Abstracts.     ERIC.

Nov. 7: Comparison of traditional database searching and Internet retrieval.    Reading.    Class notes.
Hand in: Portfolio part 2: Demonstration of searching using a system other than Dialog

Nov. 14: Seminar on searching; at the Hardin Library, with Ed Holtum.

(Nov. 21: No class: Thanksgiving recess)
 

UNIT 4: MANAGEMENT OF SEARCH SERVICES; CONCLUSION.     Readings for this unit

Nov. 28: Evaluating search services. Read Walker & Janes, ch. 12: Evaluating your results.    Class notes.
Hand in: Portfolio part 3: Comparison of Dialog with another large-scale database system

Dec. 5 (Final session): Managing search services.      Class notes.     The future of database search services.   Class notes.     Read Walker & Janes, ch. 13: Running a library search service; ch. 14: Running your own search service

Dec. 12 (Exam week): No class in this week.
Hand in: Portfolio part 4: Discussion of searching a specific area.
Important: hand in by 5:20 p.m.; late submissions are not acceptable.
 

ADDITIONAL READINGS
 
 

PRODUCTS EXPECTED FROM STUDENTS

Comprehensive search portfolio, with the following elements:

1. Demonstration of Dialog searching

2. Demonstration of searching using a system other than Dialog

3. Comparison of Dialog with another large-scale database system

4. Discussion of the problems of searching a specific subject area,
with examination of the cost and availability of databases,
specific vocabulary problems, existence of thesauri and full-text systems, etc.
 
 

GRADING SCHEME

Demonstration of Dialog searching: 30%

Demonstration of searching using a system other than Dialog: 20%

Comparison of Dialog with another large-scale database system: 20%

Discussion of the problems of searching a specific subject area: 20%

Participation: 10%