Don't
assume that you can access the high-quality resources you'll need for your
schoolwork at Carnegie Mellon using search engines such as Yahoo! or
Google.
The University Libraries' home page is where you can find quality scholarly
resources, most of which are bought and licensed for Carnegie Mellon users,
and therefore are not available via popular search engines. Make the library
web site (http://www.library.cmu.edu) your starting point whenever you need
to find information in library collections, or electronic databases, or on
the Web.
Overview of the Library Home Page
The
University Libraries' home page is divided into five main sections:
Search: Find books, articles,
videos and CDs at Carnegie Mellon -- and beyond.
Research Help: Use subject guides to get started or focus your research.
User Services
Library Information
Helpful Links
This tutorial
will explain how to hone in on the best resources for your purposes using
Search and Research Help on the library home page.
Search
Library
Catalog: Cameo: Find items in library collections at Carnegie
Mellon, including course reserves and full-text e-reserves.
Other Library Catalogs: Find items at nearby University of Pittsburgh
libraries and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Full-text Resources: Find entire articles, books and other texts, and
images -- and use them on your desktop.
Databases by Name and Databases by Subject: Two different ways
to access some of the most important online resources available
at Carnegie Mellon -- databases.
Databases
A
database is essentially an index that helps you find articles on a topic in
periodicals, newspapers, government documents, and other publications. Often
an abstract - or summary - of the article is included. Sometimes a database
even contains the full text of the article or document. Examples of full-text
databases are CQ (Congressional Quarterly)
Library, ProQuest Direct, and LexisNexis Academic.
Specific
subject areas often have specialized databases, and you will want to learn
about those available for your field. For example, the best database for American
history is America: History and Life.
The EconLit database is best for the field of economics.
INSPEC is best for computer science, etc.
Most
of the databases that the library subscribes to are available on the Web.
A few databases are only available on CD-ROM in library reference areas.
Printed indexes remain important, especially for historical research. Examples
of paper indexes include the New York Times Index (back to 1851),
and the Film Literature Index.
Choosing A Database
The
Search section of the library home page offers two different ways of accessing
library databases. If you know the name of the database you want to use, click
“Databases by Name” and go directly to the database.
Often,
though, you don’t know which database to use. In this case, click on “Databases
by Subject” and browse the list of subject categories. Let’s say you are looking
for periodical articles about the painter Claude Monet. You would choose the
category “Arts,” which lists a number of databases in Fine Arts. Browsing
the list of arts databases, you notice one called “Art Abstracts” that sounds
like what you want. To make sure it’s the right choice, click on “Art Abstracts”
and read the brief database description. This tells you that “Art Abstracts”
indexes articles on art history, so it would be a good choice for information
on Monet.
Suppose
you want to find recent articles on differences in the ways that boys and
girls watch television. Looking at the list of subject categories under “Databases
by Subject,” you aren’t sure which category to choose. Notice the category
“General/Interdisciplinary Databases.” These databases include articles on
all subjects, so they are a good choice if you are unsure. Many are full-text,
which is an added bonus.
Click
on “General/Interdisciplinary Databases” and scroll down and click “Expanded
Academic ASAP” in InfoTrac Web. Click Search, Proceed, and then “Expanded
Academic ASAP” to reach the search screen for the database. You are ready
to search for articles on your topic.
Searching A Database
Articles tend to
be more narrow in focus than books. Analyze your topic and select terms that
are essential and exactly represent your topic. Consider synonyms and alternative
vocabularies and select two or three keywords to begin your search. Take time
to review your search results, look at the subject headings (or descriptors)
that are used as indexing terms in a particular database, and revise your search
strategy until you are satisfied with the results.
More about Database Searching
Most
of the techniques you learned for searching the library catalog also apply
to database searching.
Easy
and Advanced Modes: Like Cameo,
most databases offer a simple and advanced search mode.
The advanced search mode typically allows you to do field searching
and to limit your searches by date, language, format, etc.
Operators:
You learned how to search Cameo by combining
keywords or phrases with operators. Most databases recognize the same operators:
"and", "or", "not" and “adj”. Different
databases use different default operators. A good rule of thumb is to use
"and" as an operator to clarify the relationship between search
terms.
Field
Names: You've learned that library catalog records are divided into fields.
Once you understand the concept of fields, you can search any database to
find specific information. Author, Title and Subject are field names you will
recognize in almost any index, CD-ROM or full-text database. Many databases have unique subject headings. A database for a particular
subject area will often have detailed
subject headings specific to the subject. Field names often vary from resource to resource, but the basic
idea is the same.
Obtaining Articles Found in Databases
Full-text
articles can be read immediately, saved, or printed for future use.
But if the database gives you only a citation or a citation and abstract,
you will need to locate the periodical to read the complete article. Click on the SFX icon. This will lead you to a.) the full-text article
online in another database, if available, or b.) information on the printed
periodical in the library catalog (Cameo). If Carnegie Mellon does
not have the periodical, check the catalogs of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
and the University of Pittsburgh. These libraries are just a ten-minute walk
away.
If
you have time, you can request interlibrary loan (also listed in the SFX link,
or under User Services on the library home page). Interlibrary loan
is a free service that obtains needed materials from other libraries and delivers
them to Carnegie Mellon libraries for you to use. If the item you want is
available locally, it takes just a few days. If the item you want is not
available locally, it will take longer.
Research Help
A
tremendous amount of useful information is available on the Web. You can often
find it by using a general web search engine, especially if you are looking
for something specific like an organization, product, or company. But web
search engines aren’t very good at finding the best web sites in an academic
subject field.
To
help you find high-quality scholarly resources on the Web, librarians have
created research guides for every department at Carnegie Mellon. You can find
your subject guide in the Research Help section of the library home page.
In addition to web sites, these guides list the most important indexes, databases,
and reference sources for each subject area.
The
General/Reference research guide highlights the most useful general and interdisciplinary
databases. These are good starting points for any research topic. It also
includes full-text online dictionaries, encyclopedias, writing style guides,
grantmaking resources, government information, and other handy reference sources.
User Services
Explore
services on the library home page. You can use most services online, without
even coming into the library buildings.
Ask
a Librarian: Get help and answers to research questions.
Borrow and Renew: Learn what items you can check out and how to avoid
fines.
Course Reserves: Find the required
readings for your class and use e-reserves online.
Interlibrary Loan: Get
books or photocopies from other libraries, free.
Remote User Access: If you
are not using a campus computer nor dialing up locally via Andrew,
you can still access licensed databases via IP address extension service.
Surprisingly,
the Library Catalog: Cameo is a key to many user services. Services
are listed as menu items under User Self Service, Request,
and Not In Cameo? Try here buttons
in the library catalog.
Cameo Services
You have to know
your ID and PIN to access services in Cameo:
- CARNEGIE
MELLON ID: Your 9-digit Carnegie Mellon ID number typed without dashes.
EXAMPLE 123-45-6789 is entered 123456789.
- ANDREW
ID: Your Andrew ID typed in uppercase without domain.
EXAMPLE joan@andrew.cmu.edu is entered JOAN.
- PIN:
The last four digits of your Carnegie Mellon ID number is your assigned
PIN.
Change your PIN to improve library account security.
User Self Service
Cameo keeps track
of items that you have checked out and any fines that you owe; this is your
library account. You can look at this information any time. You can
also avoid overdue fines by renewing checked-out items:
- Library
account information:Review your checkouts, holds, bills, library messages,
etc.
- Change
PIN: Choose any string of four to ten numbers and/or letters
for your PIN.
Select
an all-numeric PIN if you plan to use the automated checkout at Hunt Library
or Mellon Institute Library.
- Renew items:
Avoid fines by renewing before items are due.
Request
Library staff
act on any requests you make, and respond by email or by a message to your
library account.
- Request
checked-out item
- Request
interlibrary loan
- Recommend
purchase for library
- Question/Comment
- Note change
of address
Not
in Cameo? Try Here
This
button provides two handy interlibrary loan options:
- E-ZBorrow:
Search and request books only (usually takes 3-5 days).
- ILLiad:
Request books and photocopies from other libraries; track your requests
online (may take 2-8 days).
Find Out More
In
this tutorial, we have emphasized computerized library resources and services.
Remember, though, that the library is more than machines. Experienced people are ready to help you whatever
your need or level of expertise. Use our live chat reference service (Ask
a Librarian), or stop by any of the library reference desks for research
assistance and to learn more about using the library:
What You Should Know
How to:
- Search Cameo,
the library catalog.
- Access library
databases and web resources.
- Apply search
strategies to online databases.
- Use the self-service
features available in the library catalog.
- Get help with
using library resources (web page, reference desks, chat, email).
Back to the beginning of How to Use
Databases (and More)
Back to Tutorials
Practice
How to Use Databases (and More)
Choosing
a Database
Q:
How do I access the psychology database called PsycINFO?
Go
to the library home page (www.library.cmu.edu)
Click
on the link “Databases by Name”
Click
on the letter “P”
Click
on “PsycINFO.”
Q: Which database should I use to find articles on economics?
Go
to the library home page (www.library.cmu.edu)
Click
on the link “Databases by Subject”
Select
the category “Social Sciences”
Browse
the list for databases that might cover economics.
Click
on “EconLit.”
Read
the database description.
Searching
a Database
Q: Search for articles on blindness in the works of the British poet
John Milton.
Go
to the library home page / Databases by Name / letter M / MLA
Enter
the term milton as a keyword
On
the next line, enter the term blindness as a keyword
Click
on the search button. You should
get about 39 articles.
Q: Search for articles by the film critic Roger Ebert in the MLA database.
Go
to the library home page / Databases by Name / letter M / MLA
Change
the field setting on the pull-down menu from “keyword” to “author”
Enter
the keywords “roger” and “ebert” in any order.
You
should retrieve about 3 articles.
Note:
Why aren’t Roger Ebert’s Chicago Sun-Times reviews listed here? The MLA database does not include newspapers.
Q: Search the MLA for articles on reality TV.
Go
to the library home page / Databases by Name / letter M / MLA
Change
the field setting on the pull-down menu from “keyword” to “subject”
Enter
the keywords “reality television”
You
should retrieve about 78 articles.
Locating
Journal Articles
Search the MLA database by keyword for articles on comic books. Enter “comic books” as a keyword. You should retrieve approximately 68 articles.
Full-Text Article in Database
Find the record for the article entitled “Not Just Condensation: How Comic Books Interpret Shakespeare” in the journal College Literature. Notice that the full text of the article is available either in PDF (a page image) or HTML format (text only).
Click on the link that says “view full text in HTML format.” The full text of this article displays for reading, downloading, or printing.
SFX : Link to full-text available in a different database
Q: Find the record for the article entitled “Comic Books and Graphic Novels: Digital Resources for an Evolving Form of Art and Literature” This article is not available full-text in the MLA database (there is no link to “view full text”). How can it be located?
Click on the title to display the full record.
Click on the SFX icon.
A window pops up linking you to the full-text of this article in the OCLC Wilson Select Plus database.
Full-text available in print at Carnegie Mellon
Q: Search the MLA database by title for the article “Everyday Vampires.” This article is not available full-text in the MLA database (there is no link to “view full text”). How can it be located?
Click on the title to display the full record.
Click on the SFX icon.
An SFX Services window pops up.
Click on “Check availability in Cameo (Carnegie Mellon Library catalog)”
This journal article is available in print in the Hunt Library. Look for the journal Sight and Sound on the third floor of Hunt Library.
Full-text not available at Carnegie Mellon
Search the MLA database by title for the article “The Harry Potter Stories and French Arthurian Romance.” This article is not available full-text in the MLA database (there is no link to “view full text”). How can it be located?
Click on the title to display the full record.
Click on the SFX icon.
An SFX Services window pops up.
Click on “Check availability in Cameo (Carnegie Mellon Library catalog)”
This journal article is not available in print at Carnegie Mellon.
Return to the SFX Services popup window.
Click on “Request document via ILLiad” to order a free photocopy from another library through interlibrary loan.
Note: The first time you use ILLiad, you need to register and set up a user ID and password.
Other
Services
Ask
a Librarian
Q:
How can get help from a librarian using e-mail?
Go
to the library home page (www.library.cmu.edu)
Click
on the “Ask a Librarian” icon in the top righthand corner of the screen.
Click
on the hyperlink e-mail address for artsref, huntref, or sciref.
Enter
your question and send it to the reference department. You
should receive an answer in less than 24 hours.
Renew
items
Q:
How can I renew a book online?
Go
to the library home page (www.library.cmu.edu)
Click
on the “Borrow and Renew” link under User Services.
Click
on “Manage your library account”
Click
on “Renew items”
Enter
your Carnegie Mellon ID number
or your Andrew ID
Enter
your PIN (last 4 digits of your Carnegie Mellon ID)
Select
the items you want to renew
Click
on the button “renew selected items.”
Back
to the beginning of How to Use Databases (and More)
Back to Tutorials
