Though the distinctions are often blurred in scholarly practice,
successful library users bring to their task of inquiry both a
set of skills and a set of ideas. The search for information requires
knowing what to do and how to think. With guidance, beginners
can cultivate their abilities in both realms. World Civilizations
110 and 111 provide an ideal setting for an introduction to the
library which encourages and rewards a students process
of inquiry as well as its product. Below are listed essential
objectives in library use to be considered by those creating World
Civ library assignments.
Concept-Based Objectives.
A student completing a library
project should be able to:
1. Apply contextual clues in articulating project goals and information
needs.
2. Distinguish "scholarly" from "popular"
monographs.
3. Recognize the merits and drawbacks of general and specialized
encyclopedias.
4. Apply rudimentary selection critera in choosing reference sources,
books articles.
5. Defend choices of sources.
Skill-Based Objectives.
By executing a library project
in World Civ 110-111, a student should become familiar with:
1. The use of "Griffin," the libraries' online
catalog, for the retrieval of books, using call numbers. The
card catalog is of secondary importance.
2. The use of dictionaries and encyclopedias, for general information
and suggestions for further reading.
3. [Optional] The use of basic published indexes and to periodical
information (Reader's Guide, Social Science and Humanities
Indexes, The New York Times Index) and/or their electronic counterparts.
4. The components of a bibliographic citation.
5. The role of reference librarians and other library personnel; regulations and protocols for the use of WSU Libraries.
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