In searching for information about youth library programs and their impact on the community around them, I wanted to use a database that I am really comfortable with so I can experiment a little with a new search strategy. I have used Academic Search Complete since high school, so I decided on using it for my search. Specific facet searching works a little bit like building block searching, but they use the most “unique” term first, to weed out any non-hit at the very beginning. It sounds like an interesting idea.
I did have a little hiccup however, because I did not know what term would be the most unique of the ones I had in my facets. I figured that “impact” would be the most unique of all the terms, so I started my search that way to see how it would work out.
Search 1: (impact OR effect) AND (youth service*) AND (public librar* OR librar*)
Wow, it actually worked pretty well. I certainly am getting the hang of this – I received 24 results. Just on a causal glance, it seems like most of the items retrieved would be fairly useable. That’s pretty decent, but I want to narrow it down a bit more, just to see how I can manipulate the search strategy. I decide to shift some words around and see if anything changes.
Search 2: (impact OR effect) AND (public librar* OR librar*) AND (youth service*)
Interesting – this time I still get 24 results and while some are the same, others are different, new to this search. I want to narrow this 24 down a bit, so I decided to include another term in the query.
Search 3: (impact OR effect) AND (public librar* OR librar*) AND (youth service*) AND (literacy)
Ok, this was a good one. I only had 9 in my final set and nearly all of them would have been of use to me. I actually found a particularly good article, one that was speaking exactly to the question I had in my mind.
Here is the article’s citation:
Huffman, C., & Rua, R. (2008). Measuring the Effectiveness of Homework Centers in Libraries. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 6(3), 25-29. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.
Overall, I think this exercise has shown me the more thoughtful I am when developing my search query, the more usable, useful information I will get back!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
JSTOR and the Building Block Search
I had never use the search engine JSTOR, so I wanted to search through it with a search method I was used to dealing with, like the Building Block. Keeping in mind my original question of finding out about youth library programs and their effect on the community, I set about naming my facets.
Facet 1: youth services
Facet 2: public libraries
Facet 3: community
I wanted to start off simple and get more specific through the search, because as my other tests have shown me, starting off too specific may make me backtrack and waste some time.
Search 1: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (communit*)
I think I have figured searching terms out – I receive 265 results. Now I just need to get more specific and possibly add another facet or two.
Facet 4: programs
Search 2: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (communit*) AND (program*)
That may have been too specific because I got no results. What I am really interested in is youth service library programs, so I switch around my search a little.
Search 3: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (program*)
This expanded my result base quite a bit (over 300 more results), but I think I should add something at the end to indicate that I would like to find out about the benefits to having programs.
Search 4: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (program*) AND (benefit*)
JSTOR told me I had too many “wildcards” and needed to limit them, so then my search became : (youth service*) AND (public library) AND (program*) AND (benefit*).
I received 203 results with this, which is getting better, but I still wanted to narrow everything down a bit more.
Search 5: teens AND (youth service*) AND (public libraries) AND (program*) AND (benefit*)
Success! This narrowed down the field to a workable 37 results (once I limited where JSTOR was searching for entries, that is), and even though I did not find something that was particularly about after-school programs in libraries, it did include some information about the topic.
Here is the article:
Youth as People: The Protective Aspects of Youth Development in After-School Settings
Author(s): Heather Johnston Nicholson, Christopher Collins and Heidi Holmer
Source: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 591, Positive Development: Realizing the Potential of Youth (Jan., 2004), pp. 55-71
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4127635
Facet 1: youth services
Facet 2: public libraries
Facet 3: community
I wanted to start off simple and get more specific through the search, because as my other tests have shown me, starting off too specific may make me backtrack and waste some time.
Search 1: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (communit*)
I think I have figured searching terms out – I receive 265 results. Now I just need to get more specific and possibly add another facet or two.
Facet 4: programs
Search 2: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (communit*) AND (program*)
That may have been too specific because I got no results. What I am really interested in is youth service library programs, so I switch around my search a little.
Search 3: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (program*)
This expanded my result base quite a bit (over 300 more results), but I think I should add something at the end to indicate that I would like to find out about the benefits to having programs.
Search 4: (youth service*) AND (public librar*) AND (program*) AND (benefit*)
JSTOR told me I had too many “wildcards” and needed to limit them, so then my search became : (youth service*) AND (public library) AND (program*) AND (benefit*).
I received 203 results with this, which is getting better, but I still wanted to narrow everything down a bit more.
Search 5: teens AND (youth service*) AND (public libraries) AND (program*) AND (benefit*)
Success! This narrowed down the field to a workable 37 results (once I limited where JSTOR was searching for entries, that is), and even though I did not find something that was particularly about after-school programs in libraries, it did include some information about the topic.
Here is the article:
Youth as People: The Protective Aspects of Youth Development in After-School Settings
Author(s): Heather Johnston Nicholson, Christopher Collins and Heidi Holmer
Source: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 591, Positive Development: Realizing the Potential of Youth (Jan., 2004), pp. 55-71
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc. in association with the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4127635
LexisNexis and the Citation Pearl Growing Strategy
I think LexisNexis is a neat search tool, so I decided to use it in conjunction with my search for youth programs and their benefits to the community. In this search, I wanted to do a citation pearl growing search, since I had never done one prior to now. I started with a basic, no-nonsense search.
Search 1: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (benefits)
No results. I thought the term “benefits” would get more results than “community”, but maybe not. I decided to try “community” again.
Search 2: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (community)
I still came back with no results. Maybe I should try to simplify the search and see if that helps.
Search 3: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services)
I once again came away with nothing, but I think it is because I am not specifying that I mean youth LIBRARY services. I decided to try it again.
Search 4: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (library)
Nothing again, but I decided to place library elsewhere in the search and simplify the other parts, just to see if it is possible to get a result.
Search 5: (youth AND library) AND (programs)
Ack! Still nothing found. Maybe if I simplify the search even further, I could get a result.
Search 6: (youth OR young adult) AND (library) AND (programs)
I still did not get anything back. This could be for a variety of reasons, but I think newspapers have different buzzword, and Lexis uses a lot of different newspapers. Maybe I should just see what is out there for youth services and libraries.
Search 7: (youth OR young adult) AND (library)
Finally, I get results, but they number in the thousands. At least now I know some are out there. I refine my search to get a better result pack.
Search 8: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (library)
This still gives me around 800 results, but at least I am slightly narrowing it down. I try “program” in the search again.
Search 9: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (library) AND (program*)
Now, I get a list I can use. There is an article that has a bit of what I need: “Teens gain guiding role at libraries.” The Boston Globe, August 21, 2008 Thursday, WEST; Pg. Reg1, 802 words, Anna Fiorentino Globe Correspondent.
I find the term “adolescents” used, so I include that in my next search. I also try public libraries and narrow the search further.
Search 10: (adolescents OR youth OR young adult AND services) AND (librar* or public library*) AND (program*)
This brings me a list of 45 items. I note that an article in the list (“It takes a librarian to raise a village of teens; No longer mere keepers of the Dewey Decimal System, book wranglers are stepping in for strapped parents and teachers” The Globe and Mail (Canada), June 14, 2008 Saturday, GLOBE TORONTO; LITERARY LEAP: TORONTO'S NEW YOUTH CENTRES; Pg. M6, 1366 words, PATRICIA CHISHOLM, Special to The Globe and Mail), uses the term “Student and Student Life” in there search terms. I decide to add this to my search.
Search 11: (adolescents OR youth OR young adult AND services) AND (librar* or public library*) AND (program*) AND (student* OR student life)
25 results are in the list, which is a bit long, but still manageable. At the beginning of the result list, I find a good article. It took me a while, but I can see how the pearl strategy can be an asset as it quickly narrows down topics.
Here is the article:
”Opening young minds; D.C. library adds new learning tools for city youth.”
The Washington Times, September 2, 2009 Wednesday, A, CITIZEN JOURNALISM: DISTRICT; Pg. 15, 721 words, By John Muller SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Search 1: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (benefits)
No results. I thought the term “benefits” would get more results than “community”, but maybe not. I decided to try “community” again.
Search 2: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (community)
I still came back with no results. Maybe I should try to simplify the search and see if that helps.
Search 3: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services)
I once again came away with nothing, but I think it is because I am not specifying that I mean youth LIBRARY services. I decided to try it again.
Search 4: (programs) AND (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (library)
Nothing again, but I decided to place library elsewhere in the search and simplify the other parts, just to see if it is possible to get a result.
Search 5: (youth AND library) AND (programs)
Ack! Still nothing found. Maybe if I simplify the search even further, I could get a result.
Search 6: (youth OR young adult) AND (library) AND (programs)
I still did not get anything back. This could be for a variety of reasons, but I think newspapers have different buzzword, and Lexis uses a lot of different newspapers. Maybe I should just see what is out there for youth services and libraries.
Search 7: (youth OR young adult) AND (library)
Finally, I get results, but they number in the thousands. At least now I know some are out there. I refine my search to get a better result pack.
Search 8: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (library)
This still gives me around 800 results, but at least I am slightly narrowing it down. I try “program” in the search again.
Search 9: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (library) AND (program*)
Now, I get a list I can use. There is an article that has a bit of what I need: “Teens gain guiding role at libraries.” The Boston Globe, August 21, 2008 Thursday, WEST; Pg. Reg1, 802 words, Anna Fiorentino Globe Correspondent.
I find the term “adolescents” used, so I include that in my next search. I also try public libraries and narrow the search further.
Search 10: (adolescents OR youth OR young adult AND services) AND (librar* or public library*) AND (program*)
This brings me a list of 45 items. I note that an article in the list (“It takes a librarian to raise a village of teens; No longer mere keepers of the Dewey Decimal System, book wranglers are stepping in for strapped parents and teachers” The Globe and Mail (Canada), June 14, 2008 Saturday, GLOBE TORONTO; LITERARY LEAP: TORONTO'S NEW YOUTH CENTRES; Pg. M6, 1366 words, PATRICIA CHISHOLM, Special to The Globe and Mail), uses the term “Student and Student Life” in there search terms. I decide to add this to my search.
Search 11: (adolescents OR youth OR young adult AND services) AND (librar* or public library*) AND (program*) AND (student* OR student life)
25 results are in the list, which is a bit long, but still manageable. At the beginning of the result list, I find a good article. It took me a while, but I can see how the pearl strategy can be an asset as it quickly narrows down topics.
Here is the article:
”Opening young minds; D.C. library adds new learning tools for city youth.”
The Washington Times, September 2, 2009 Wednesday, A, CITIZEN JOURNALISM: DISTRICT; Pg. 15, 721 words, By John Muller SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
LibraryLit & The Successive Fraction Search
I think the topic I chose to search in the beginning searches was a little complicated, even though it seemed straightforward. After some thought, I decided I was going to investigate after-school youth programs and their impact on the community.
I wanted to start with a database I knew a little about and use the most confusing of all the searches to make it a bit easier on myself. (Being confused on two topics would just make a mess of the whole thing!) Using LibraryLit, I did a successive fraction search.
I think that youth programs would get the most information back, so I built the search around it, using some nested Boolean techniques.
Search 1: (youth services) AND (after-school programs) AND (community)
No results. Hmm. It is possibly the way everything is spelled. I decide to change up the search in order to possibly get more results. I decide to leave out “community” to see if changing it will give me back anymore results.
Search 2: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs)
522 Results! Ok, I am obviously on the right track. Some of the items I retrieved are actually useable, but I want to narrow it down further, so I try yet another search. I also limit the type of articles that I will get back – so only peer-reviewed articles will be included going forward.
Search 3: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs) AND (impact)
No results. Using a progressively unique term at the end is truly weeding out those articles that are applicable! I am going to go back to “community” and see if this works here.
Search 4: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs) AND (community OR town).
43 Records. Now we are getting somewhere. Let’s get more specific.
Search 5: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs) AND (community OR town) AND (literacy) – This search really gets to the heart of what I want to know about.
Success! 6 totally useable and applicable records were found; 6 records are certainly something I can handle. Six is much better than 522, that is for certain!
Here is the article:
Diaz, R. (2009). After School Mobile Literacy: Serving Youth in Underserved Neighborhoods. Teacher Librarian, 36(3), 37-8. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.
I wanted to start with a database I knew a little about and use the most confusing of all the searches to make it a bit easier on myself. (Being confused on two topics would just make a mess of the whole thing!) Using LibraryLit, I did a successive fraction search.
I think that youth programs would get the most information back, so I built the search around it, using some nested Boolean techniques.
Search 1: (youth services) AND (after-school programs) AND (community)
No results. Hmm. It is possibly the way everything is spelled. I decide to change up the search in order to possibly get more results. I decide to leave out “community” to see if changing it will give me back anymore results.
Search 2: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs)
522 Results! Ok, I am obviously on the right track. Some of the items I retrieved are actually useable, but I want to narrow it down further, so I try yet another search. I also limit the type of articles that I will get back – so only peer-reviewed articles will be included going forward.
Search 3: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs) AND (impact)
No results. Using a progressively unique term at the end is truly weeding out those articles that are applicable! I am going to go back to “community” and see if this works here.
Search 4: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs) AND (community OR town).
43 Records. Now we are getting somewhere. Let’s get more specific.
Search 5: (youth OR young adult AND services) AND (programs) AND (community OR town) AND (literacy) – This search really gets to the heart of what I want to know about.
Success! 6 totally useable and applicable records were found; 6 records are certainly something I can handle. Six is much better than 522, that is for certain!
Here is the article:
Diaz, R. (2009). After School Mobile Literacy: Serving Youth in Underserved Neighborhoods. Teacher Librarian, 36(3), 37-8. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Even the Cool Kids Like Pictures!
In looking through various library sites for information about young adult services, I stumbled upon the Voice of Youth Advocates' (or VOYA) chronology of Young Adult Library Services History (you can find the link here. To the right, you will see a copy of the Young Adult Alternative Newsletter, which started in 1973.
To the left is a picture, also from the VOYA site, showing kids and teens surrounding the Book Wagon of Pratt Library. I included it because it shows how far we have come! Libraries are available now to all sort of segments of society - many inner city neighborhoods boast impressive libraries these days.These images are important to my topic because it is important to know how and where youth services began and its history before I try to implement my own plans! Another librarian could have had the same idea and saw it did not work. Knowing where you came from is essential to know where you are going.
Jeana : )
All The Cool Girls Go to This Website!
Using Google, I found a neat website geared toward young adult readers, called Book Divas. At Book Divas, the goal is to get young women interested in reading and becoming a part of a community of readers. This promotes literacy among an age group that typically rejects reading (beside the occasional seventeen or Cosmo).
They have everything from book trailers and interviews to reviews and contests! It includes some of the most popular titles for young women, along with some independant novels.
You can find Book Divas main page here.
Jeana : )
They have everything from book trailers and interviews to reviews and contests! It includes some of the most popular titles for young women, along with some independant novels.
You can find Book Divas main page here.
Jeana : )
Multimedia: Book Trailers Are a Cool Librarian's Friend
I was turned on to book trailers by a kid I was tutoring this summer. Basically, they are short video that act like movie trailers do: they preview the book in words and pictures. It made perfect sense! Kids are constantly downloading and viewing material in videos over the Internet, so why not peak their interest in a book by presenting it in a format they prefer?
You can find loads of book trailers at the website Veoh, which is where I got this particular trailer. This is a trailer for a young adult title called Desperado Moon by Sheila Keller. The trailer gives a brief summary in a way that may appeal to the sensibilities of teen, more so then just reading a book jacket. Here is the page that links you to the video for Desperado Moon on their website.
Happy Videoing!
Jeana : )
You can find loads of book trailers at the website Veoh, which is where I got this particular trailer. This is a trailer for a young adult title called Desperado Moon by Sheila Keller. The trailer gives a brief summary in a way that may appeal to the sensibilities of teen, more so then just reading a book jacket. Here is the page that links you to the video for Desperado Moon on their website.
Happy Videoing!
Jeana : )
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