Penn State University Libraries - spring semester 2011

When a student asks for help in finding information for a research paper, we try to help them find the most authoritative sources accessible whether the information is found in print or electronically.  However, all too often the student says “My teacher won’t let us use anything that is on the Web.”  And the students interpret the Web as anything electronic.

But as more resources move to electronic formats, we need to help the students distinguish between quality scholarly information and Web junk.  For example, a Google search on animal rights retrieves a variety of sites with varying viewpoints ranging from the objective to the absurd.  Teaching students to start using at the Libraries Web Site can provide them with more objective information. 

Here are a few recommendations for starting points for student papers.  Try these First was specifically developed for undergraduate research papers.  The CAT provides access to books, journals and other materials in PSU’s collection. Gale Virtual Reference has several hundred encyclopedias in all subject areas. CQ Researcher and Opposing Viewpoints provide background information on many topics.

The Life Sciences Library’s Web Page also starts students in the right direction.  Research Guides are available for all life sciences disciplines and help students identify indexes and other resources specific to their field of study.

And finally remember that the majority of journals and many books are being provided electronically through the CAT. 

Kathy Fescemyer is on sabbatical leave on February 1 - August 1, 2011.  During her leave she will be studying the Scholarly Communication Patterns of Horticultural Researchers  and developing two lists of core horticultural resources.  One will be for scholarly journals for researchers.  And the second is a list of journals and magazines for botanical and horticultural libraries and practitioners.  Kathy is the subject specialist for the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, the Department  of Crop and Soil Science, the Department of Horticulture, and the Department of Plant Pathology.  During her leave, Contact Amy Paster (alp4@psu.edu) with requests for reference help, classes or acquisitions requests.

Stat!Ref has added the following books to its collection.  Individual titles are being added to the CAT soon.

• AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing (2006)
• Advancing Your Career: Concepts of Professional Nursing - 4th Ed. (2008)
• Ambulatory Care Procedures for the Nurse Practitioner - 2nd Ed. (2004)
• Clinical Guide to Oncology Nutrition, The - 2nd Ed. (2006)
• Contemporary Nursing Knowledge: Analysis and Evaluation of Nursing Models and Theories - 2nd Ed. (2005)
• Davis's Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications - 3rd Ed. (2009)
• Ethical Decision Making in Nursing and Health Care: The Symphonological Approach - 4th Ed. (2008)
• Evidence-Based Approach to the Treatment and Care of the Older Adult With Cancer, An (2006)
• Evidence-Based Geriatric Nursing Protocols for Best Practice - 3rd Ed. (2008)
• Guide to Culturally Competent Health Care, 2nd Ed. (2009)
• Handbook of Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalances - 3rd Ed. (2010)
• Health Professional's Guide To Popular Dietary Supplements, The - 3rd Ed. (2007)
• Labor and Delivery Nursing: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice (2009)
• Medical-Surgical Nursing Care - 3rd Ed. (2011)
• OLDS' Maternal-Newborn Nursing & Women's Health Across the Lifespan - 8th Ed. (2008)
• Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing - 3rd Ed (2010)
• Psychosocial Nursing Care Along the Cancer Continuum - 2nd Ed. (2006)
• Teaching Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: A Guide for Academic and Clinical Settings (2006)
• Understanding and Managing Oncologic Emergencies: A Resource for Nurses (2006)

Starting in January 2011, the National Science Foundation will be requiring Data Management Plans for all new grant submissions. Here are a few links to National Science Foundation pages that explain more about this requirement.

• Background on the NSF policy: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/committees/tskforce_dp_charge.jsp
• NSF press release (5/2010): http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116928
• Statement/outline of the DMP requirement: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf11001/gpg_2.jsp#dmp
• NSF on Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results: (this page has several links
  to more specific guides on DMPs, depending on the directorate/division) http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp
• FAQ on managing and sharing data: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmpfaqs.jsp
• ARL Guide for Research Libraries: The NSF Data Sharing Policy: http://www.arl.org/rtl/eresearch/escien/nsf/
• ICPSR Guidelines for Effective Data Management Plans: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/dmp/index.jsp

While browsing the internet, or reading your webmail, you come across a book that you would like to see.  Does Penn State have a copy? You can go the library page, select the CAT and input a search to find out….OR… you can simply highlight the title, right click your mouse and select “search the CAT for title” and another window opens with your search already executed!

How about this… you are at home using an internet connection via your cable or phone company.  Your advisor recommends an article at Elsevier’s ScienceDirect service and sends you a link, but since you are not on campus, you can’t read it without paying!  You can go the library page and search the e-journal list to see if the library already has a subscription, and sign on and navigate to the article you want …. OR… simply right click anywhere in the page and select “Reload  www.xxxxyyyyzzz.com via EZProxy” put in your PSU ID/Password and you have access!

 The Library (LibX) Toolbar is a customizable browser plugin for Firefox (a great browser) that provides direct access to Penn State's library resources.  See more information and download the plugin here:

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/toolswidgets/libx.html