Geraldene Walker and Joseph Janes. Online Retrieval: A Dialogue of Theory and Practice. 2^nd ed. Libraries Unlimited, 1999. Other readings will be assigned as well.

Introduces students to theoretical and practical aspects of searching online databases such as library catalogs, article indexes, full-text repositories, and statistical compendia. Addresses database suppliers and vendors; query formulation, results evaluation, and query revision; search interfaces and engines; search strategies and techniques; and search service management issues. A series of short assignments provides students with hands-on searching experience. A more in-depth assignment allows students to pursue topics or projects of their choice.

Every student must complete every assignment to receive a final grade. Students will be evaluated on the quality of their performance in 3 areas:

There are 9 exercises providing hands-on experience with online searching; you may skip one and drop one other score; or skip two (not recommended); or do all and drop the two lowest scores.

For the final project, you may craft an activity or product that fits your own learning objectives. The project may take the form of an in-class presentation, a Web site, an analytic paper on a significant issue, search services for a client with specific information needs, or a report with recommendations. Other possibilities you think of should be discussed with the instructor in advance.

Participation includes class attendance, intellectual engagement, and a willingness to share your online searching experiences and insights with the class.

Introduction and Overview

Bibliographic Databases

Sep. 3, Labor Day, no class

Exercise #1 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Vendors and Interfaces

Indexing and Abstracting Services

Exercise #2 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Full-text databases, including reference works, articles, statistics

Exercise #3 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Browsing vs. searching

Web portals & Web search engines

Exercise #4 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Dialog Databases; Searching Techniques

Exercise #5 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Dialog Databases, continued.

Controlled vocabulary; Classification codes

Exercise #6 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Dialog Databases, continued.

Citation indexes; Statistical databases; Directories

Exercise #7 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Lexis-Nexis Databases.

Full-text news sources

Lexis-Nexis Databases.

Business and legal news.

Exercise #9 due. Be prepared to present strategies and results in class.

Managing Online Search Services: Issues and Opportunities

Nov. 12, Veterans Day Holiday, no class

Review of course topics, search techniques, trends

Student presentations of final projects