WYTHEVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Introduction to Library Orientation

We recommend that you print a copy of this page before beginning the exercise.

The library orientation is designed to acquaint you with a number of the library resources which will be helpful during your course of studies at the college. Please read the following information before completing the library orientation exercise.

Library and Learning Resource Center Home Page

We have developed our home page to make it easier to find information and resources that the library provides. You may visit the page at http://www.wcc.vccs.edu/library/. You can search our catalog for items that we own; find our library hours; library staff telephone numbers and e-mail listings; periodical lists; internet sites; and periodical databases. Library databases may be accessed from the library, the Academic Resource Center, the Smyth Education Center, the Crossroads Institute, and off campus to currently enrolled students. On the left side of the home page you can locate links to our resources.

VIVA is a state-funded consortium of academic libraries offering databases on many subjects, full text journals, reference books, full text works of poetry and verse, and links to statistical resources. Some of the more popular databases we offer are the following:

Academic Search Complete is a database that provides access to thousands of magazine, journal, and newspaper articles. Many of these articles are full text and the article can be read, printed or emailed.

EBSCOhost Research Databases includes the above Academic Search Complete as well as CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, and PsycINFO.

This orientation exercise may be completed at the WCC Library or other sites including the Crossroads Institute or the Smyth Education Center. Students may also complete this exercise from home if they have Internet access. In order to access the VIVA databases required to complete this exercise, you will need to use your username and password.

IMPORTANT!! The databases you will be searching open up in their own browser window. We recommend you print a copy of this page before you begin the exercise to record your answers on before you begin the exercise. When you have finished, transfer your answers to this page and click the submit button. All exercises must be submitted on this page.

If you need assistance with this exercise please contact:

George Mattis, 276-223-4744 or wcmattg@wcc.vccs.edu

Cathy Reynolds, 276-223-4876 or wcreync@wcc.vccs.edu

or, call toll free in Virginia 1-800-468-1195

LIBRARY ORIENTATION EXERCISE

Name

Email address

Class Day

Class Time

Instructor

  1. From the library home page below search the library catalog, VCCSLinc, to find a book on one of the topics below.

    The catalog will open in a separate browser window. In the Choose Search Type field, use the dropdown list. Select the "Subject (LC) begins with..." category. Enter your subject from the list below and perform the search. In some cases, the term you have entered will not be a “correct subject term.” If the term you have entered directs you to see another subject, click on the underlined words. Choose one of the items from the list and answer the following questions.

    • abortion
    • addiction
    • animal rights
    • biology
    • censorship
    • child abuse
    • community colleges
    • death penalty
    • domestic violence
    • drug abuse
    • ecology
    • euthanasia
    • mental illness
    • nursing
    • pollution
    • poverty
    • suicide

    What is your topic?

    Book title:

    Call number and location:

    Is the item available for use? Determine this from the Campus (owned/out) information:

  2. Now click on the number on the left hand side of the screen under the column "View Record". This will take you to the full view of the record. What additional information is provided in this view?


  3. Click on the Basic Search link in the blue box to return to the search screen. Choose one of the following authors to use as an author search in the online catalog. In the Choose Search Type drop down list select "Author (last name first)".

    • Jane Austen
    • Ernest Hemingway
    • Stephen Crane
    • John Steinbeck
    • William Faulkner
    • Mark Twain
    • Robert Frost
    • Alice Walker

    Which author did you choose?

    What is the first book listed?

    What is the call number?

  4. Choose one of the following combinations of words to do a keyword search in the online catalog using the search type “Keywords Anywhere”. Use the word combination related to your subject in number 1 above.

    • abortion and law
    • drug abuse and drugs
    • addiction and drugs
    • ecology and environment
    • animal rights and welfare
    • euthanasia and death
    • biology and life
    • mental illness and treatment
    • censorship and literature
    • pollution and ecology
    • child abuse and neglect
    • poverty and poor
    • community colleges and education
    • suicide and death
    • death penalty and punishment
    • nursing and health
    • domestic violence and family

    How many titles did your search retrieve?

    What is the title of the first book on your topic?


  5. Close the library catalog window to return to the library home page. Click on the link for Library Databases. Click on the link for Academic Search Complete. The database will open in a new browser window. Perform a search using your keyword terms from number 4. Enter the initial term(s) in the first search box. Use the drop down list to locate the search "SU Subject Terms". Click on that link. Enter the second term(s) in the next box that is preceded by the word "and". Again use the drop down list to locate the search "SU Subject Terms". In the "Limit your results" category on the left side of the window, check the box for "Full Text". Click on the search button. Select a title from the results list. List the following bibliographic information (as available)

    Article title:

    Author:

    Source (Title of magazine or journal):

    Date of issue:

    Close the Academic Search Complete window to return to the Library web site.

  6. From the library home page, click again on the link for library databases. Click on the link for the EBSCOhost Research databases. Click on the link for the CINAHL database. Choose the subject set of terms you wish to search from the list below. Enter the initial subject term(s) in the first search box. Use the drop down list to locate the search "MW Word in Subject Heading". Click on that link. Enter the second subject term in the next box that is preceded by the word "and". Again use the drop down list to locate the search "MW Word in Subject Heading". Click on the search button. Select a title from the list and provide the following information.

    • Abortion and women
    • Child abuse and trauma
    • Euthanasia and ethical issues
    • Ethics, medical and health care delivery
    • Mental illness and treatment outcomes
    • Domestic violence and community health
    • Substance abuse and treatment


    Article title:

    Author:

    Source and Volume Information:

    Date:

    Pages:

  7. Return to the library home page and click on the link for Guides and Tutorials. Scroll down to the section for Internet Guides and click on the link for Librarians Index to the Internet. This link will open in a new browser window. Perform a search using your subject term from question 1. Choose one of the listed results and go to that web site. List the title of that web site, the date it was updated or created, and the URL (web addresss) for the site.

    Web Site Title

    Date Updated or Created

    Web Site URL

You are now finished with the Library orientation exercise. Click the Submit button below to submit your answers for grading.