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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 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 Summit 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.

This orientation exercise may be completed at the WCC Library or other sites including the Crossroads Institute or the Summit 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 gmattis@wcc.vccs.edu

LIBRARY ORIENTATION EXERCISE

Question 1
From the library home page 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
Question 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?
Question 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
Question 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
Question 5
Close the Academic Search Complete window to return to the Library web site.
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).
Question 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
WCC Library/SDV 100 Feedback Questions
1. The information provided during the library orientation exercise will be useful in locating print and electronic resources for class assignment.
2. The instructions for completing the library orientation exercise were easy to understand.
3. The instructions for completing the library orientation exercise were helpful in completing the exercise.
4. Was assistance required to complete the library orientation exercise?
5. The assistance required was provided in a timely and helpful manner.
6. Were you completing the library orientation exercise as part of an SDV 100 course?
7. Is this an online or in-person section of this course?
8. If in-person course, was the presentation made by the librarian was helpful in completing the library orientation exercise.
Please answer the questions below in order to help us improve this library orientation exercise. Thank you.
You are now finished with the Library orientation exercise. Click the Submit button below to submit your answers for grading.

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