21:141 ER Project

21:141 Reference and Information Services Due: Friday, June 22

20 points
Electronic Resources Project
Project Description

For this project, students will select, examine and evaluate an electronic resource–either cd-rom or web-based–comparing it to its print version. Students will then develop a users’ guide for this electronic resource.

Tasks

Step 1: Select an electronic resource. Some suggestions include:

bibliographic tools (e.g. OCLC WorldCat, RLIN, BIP, UI’s LCAT, COMPASS, SILO)
indexing and abstracting tools (e.g. Wilson Indexes, InfoTrac, FirstSearch, Healthnet, NewsBank, SIRS, EBSCO, UMI, Columbia Granger’s World of Poetry, PAIS, LEXIS,)
encyclopedias (e.g. Britannica, World Book, Americana, Encarta)

Step 2: Write a narrative description (2-3 pages) of the electronic resource, addressing the criteria below. Reading some reviews of the product should help! When possible, compare the electronic version to its print counterpart.

publisher
format
cost
content
scope (years, subjects)
depth
timeliness
access (searching capabilities, sample searches)
what type of library/users would use this resource

Step 3: Create a "quick start" users’ guide (1 page). Think about what a library patron would need to know to get started using this electronic resource independently, such as:

when this would be an appropriate resource to use

how to get started
the basics of executing a search (include some examples)
how to expand or refine a search
common pitfalls (what to watch out for)
what to do with the results (to the stacks? print? download? email? )

Home—Syllabus