Competency 6-Database Competency

 Specific Facet search:For my topic I chose to do a search on public library outreach programs in Project Muse.

I used the specific facet search by starting with the broadest terms I know.
I put in Public library  as a search in all fields and got 27089 results.

I then added a more specific facet to the search.
I searched for the terms public library  outreach in all fields. I got 830 results.Even though the result list was long , the first ten records  looked very promising.  The second record on the list was a review that I couldn't really use. The  sixth result was an interesting history of public library outreach and a fascinating biography of a very determined and involved librarian named Vivian Harsh.

 Volume 44, Number 2, 2009


E-ISSN: 1932-9555 Print ISSN: 1932-4855



DOI: 10.1353/lac.0.0071

Vivian Harsh, Adult Education, and the Library’s Role as Community Center

Laura Burt

Libraries & the Cultural Record, Volume 44, Number 2, 2009, pp. 234-255 (Article)

DOI: 10.1353/lac.0.0071

This article was very useful.

Specific Facet Search : final result

While the article I did find was useful. this seems like a somewhat clumsy and random way to search for this topic. I might try a different approach.

 Successive fractions search:
I also did a successive fractions search in the Worldcat database to limit my search.

I started with public AND libraries, but this gave me 672.395 hits.
I limited my search by adding the word outreach as a "descriptor" and I got  170 hits.
I further limited my search by  materials:books and I got a very relevant and useful 58 hits. The first record is for Kathleen de La Pena McCook's book A place at the table: participating in community building. Ms.de La  Pena-McCook wrote the text book for my public library class. I am also familiar with her work as a past contibutor to the Reference Users Quarterly periodical. I know the subject matter usually covered in her articles and am certain that the contents of the book has the sort of information about outreach that  I am looking for.

Successive fractions search:

This search was rather straightforward because I am already familiar with the author. It would be a difficult search method if I were completely new to the library field.

Pearl growing search.  Next I turn to LibraryLit to find information about my topic.
By doing a google search on the terms "public library outreach" and "article", I learn that Judith Boyce is a leading authority on public library outreach. I go to LibraryLit and put her name in as the AU: Boyce, Judith.

I get 15 articles. Of these articles, record 3,4,5, and 6 look very useful as they involve public library outreach.

Pearl Growing Search:

This was the easiest and most direct search method. I only spent about 5 minutes pulling up this information. When you match a good Google search with a comprehensive database and controlled vocabulary, you get an unbeatable combination.

Building Block Search

I go to  First Search: ERIC  and use the words Public  Library OR  libraries  AND outreach OR community services and events . I get 378 hits. I must narrow my search. I decide to pick a particular aspect of outreach,which is outreach to senior citizens. When I narrow down my search I get 8 very useful documents.
This is not a very efficient way to search. This way seems rather clumsy and unproductive.