Lisha Li
GA Tech Library
Fall 2009
Objectives of the Workshop
 Get exposure of various information
resources that are helpful to your projects
 Learn the basics of information research
skills
 Know where and how to obtain materials
 Get familiar with some resources through
hands-on exercises
Outlines
 Information structures
 Information access
 Information evaluation and integration
 Hands on exercises
 Find EIS information for your projects
(How information is organized)
Types of Information
Scholarly Journal Publishing Cycle
Technical Reports
 A document written by a researcher detailing the results of






a project and submitted to the sponsor of that project.
Many of GATech's reports are government sponsored
(microfiche) - DOE, DOD, EPA and NASA, with a lot full
image via the internet (GFTR).
May be published before the corresponding journal
literature
More detailed than the corresponding journal literature
(although there may be less background information since
the sponsor already knows it)
Not peer reviewed unless the report is separately published
as journal literature
Classified and export controlled reports have restricted
access.
Obscure acronyms and codes are frequently used
Databases
 Electronic database; Information database.
 Any collection of data, or information, that is specially organized for rapid search
and retrieval by a computer.
 Databases are structured to facilitate the storage, retrieval, modification, and
deletion of data in conjunction with various data-processing operations. (EB)
 Database
 Files
queries
 Records
 Fields
 Data
keywords
 Database indexing - the application of a pre-defined
controlled vocabulary to articles for inclusion in a
database),
Thesaurus
 A list of predetermined words and phrases
that describe the subject matter of a
database.
 Synonym: controlled vocabulary.
 An information database often has an
accompanying thesaurus.
 Example: Compendex - Thesaurus;
TRIS - TRT
Compendex Thesaurus
Classification Code
 Classification Code
 A numerical hierarchy
of general subject
categories.
 Used to place a term
into context when the
meaning can vary
depending on its
usage.
 Example,
 windows - building
materials (42*)
 Windows computer and data
processing (72*)
Compendex Record Example
(Where and how to retrieve information)
Databases and Features - Books
 GIL Catalog – Every thing GA Tech Library
own + others
 GIL Universal Catalog – Every thing in USG
libraries
 WorldCat – Things owned by libraries in the
U.S. and around world
Databases and Features –
Articles/Reports
 ASCE Civil Engineering Database
 Compendex (i)
 GeoRef (i)
 NTIS
 TRIS Online
 Web of Science (i)
 Lexis-Nexis (i)
 Academic Search Complete (i)
ASCE Civil Engineering Database
 Including all ASCE publications (journals,
conference proceedings, books, standards,
manuals, magazines, and newspapers), with
over 100,000 index records and abstracts
(1958- ).
 Links to full text articles from ASCE journals
(1990- ).
Compendex
 The most comprehensive interdisciplinary
engineering database in the world.
 7.5 million records, referencing 5,000
engineering journals and conference
materials (1884).
 Link to full text through
NTIS
 Index to unclassified government-sponsored
research reports
 DOD, DOE, NASA, EPA, USGS, DOT and others
 International government departments
 MF available at GT Library, 2nd Floor East
 1964-current
 Full text reports may be online (GFTR; DOE
Information Bridge; EPA’s NEPIS; Science.gov)
TRIS Online
 Collaborate effort by the Transportation Research




Board, part of the National Academies, and the
National Transportation Library, part of Bureau of
Transportation Statistics (BTS) , Research and
Innovative Technology Administration, (U.S. DOT).
The largest and most comprehensive bibliographic
resource on transportation information (1960 - ).
Highway Research Board publications are covered
back to 1923.
Over 535,000 bibliographic records including technical
reports, books, conference proceedings and journal
articles.
Selected (almost 24,000) links to full text.
Web of Science
 Web access to ISI databases: Science
Citation Index Expanded (1900 -), Social
Sciences Citation Index (1956-).
 8,500 of prestigious, high impact research
journals in the world.
 Links to full text articles through
Lexis-Nexis
 Over 5,600 publications, virtually all include full text.
 Include newspapers (in English and many other
languages), legal news, general interest magazines,
medical journals, trade publications, company financial
information, transcripts, wire service reports, government
publications (such as the federal case law, U.S. Code, Code
of Federal Regulations, Congressional Testimony, etc.), law
reviews, and reference works (such as the Market Share
Reporter, the Encyclopedia of Associations, and Ulrich's
International Periodical Directory).
 As current as today.
Academic Search Complete
 Covers sciences, social sciences,
international affairs and others
 Index to over 8,000 journals, general
magazines
 Full text links to over 4,600 scholarly
journals
 1965-current
Database Searching Basics
 Keyword Search: Author, Title, Subject Heading
(Descriptor/Controlled Vocabulary), Identifier
 Use Thesaurus – Descriptors to retrieve relevant
records
 Use Proximity Operators (SAME, NEAR, WITHIN
X)
 Use Phrase Searching (“ “)
 Use Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) to
narrow or broaden searches
Boolean Logic
B
A
C
B
A
C
B
A
C
Narrow Search Strategy
 Create additional set and combine sets using
AND
 e.g. (A1 OR A2) AND (B1 or B2)
 Restrict Keyword to Title,
Descriptor/Controlled Term, Identifier
Fields
 Use Proximity Operators (NEAR, WITHIN
X)
 e.g. wastewater NEAR microbiolog*
Broaden Search Strategy
 Check for similar concepts in the title, abstract and
subject heading fields
 Look for broaden subject terms and synonyms
 Look for concepts that have equal importance
 Spell out acronyms and abbreviations
 Include alternative spellings
 Use author’s last name, initial
 Combine terms using OR
Example: The Big Dig Project
Find Synonyms
 The Big Dig
 Boston’s Big Dig
 Boston Central Artery
 Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project
 CA/T
 John F. Fitzgerald Expressway (official name)
 Green Monster (nickname)
 Components: Ted Williams Tunnel; Leonard P.
Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge; Interstate 90 Extension;
Interstate 93 Extension
Search GIL Catalog
GIL: Search Result
GIL: Record Display
Search GIL Universal
GIL Universal Record Display
GIL Universal – GIL Express
Your
Buzzcard
no. here
GIL Express
Your BuzzCard No.
(902………..)
WorldCat
Search TRIS Online
TRIS Online: Sample Result
Search ASCE
ASCE Record Display
Check GIL
GIL Record
Search NTIS
NTIS Search Results
Check GFTR
Check MF on 2 East
Search Compendex
Compendex Search Result
Compendex Search Results Example
Class.
code for:
highway
systems
Google Scholar & GT Web Localizer
http://www.library.gatech.edu/search/web_localizer.php
Search NuCat for EIS
Nucat Search Result & ILLiad
Contact
Lisha Li
before
proceeding
with ILL for
EIS
documents
Search Lexis-Nexis – for Newspaper
Articles/Current Information
(How to evaluate and use information)
Internet Evaluation Tools
Ask yourself these questions:
 Is the Information Objective?
 Is there any noticeable bias?
 Who is the Author?
 Are any credentials or
qualifications given?
 Who is the publisher?
 Is the Information Accurate?
 Are facts and statistics
verifiable?
 Is there a bibliography?
 Is the Information Current?
 Is this the most current
information on your topic?
(More Reference: Evaluating
Information Found on the
Internet
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ins
truct/guides/evaluation.html)
Citation Styles
 ASCE author’s guidelines
 http://pubs.asce.org/authors/book/generalresourc
es/writingstyle.htm (writing style)
 http://pubs.asce.org/authors/book/generalresourc
es/references.htm (author-date reference)
 American Psychological Association (APA)
 Chicago [Turabian]
 Modern Language Association (MLA)
Bibliographic Management Tools
 Citation Machine: an interactive web tool designed
to assist students, and independent researchers in
generating standard citations in MLA, APA and
Chicago style.
 EndNote X2 - a bibliographic management tool
(available for download from the OIT Software
Distribution list, paid for by the GA Tech
Technology Fee) that will allow you to organize
your references and automatically create
bibliographies.
Copy Right / Fair Use
 Copyright and fare use guidelines
http://www.library.gatech.edu/services/reserves/copyright.php
 Copyright Statement
 Four Factors of Fair Use




the purpose and character of the use
the nature of the copyrighted work
the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation
to the copyrighted work as a whole
the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of
the copyrighted work
 Obtaining Publisher Permission
 Disclaimer for linked pages
More Information & Resources
 Library Resource Page for CEE3000:
 http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~ll117/CEE3000-F09.htm
 Civil Engineering Subject Guide:
 http://www.library.gatech.edu/research_help/subject/index.php?/civil_eng
ineering

Beta testing Federated Search Engine on this page
 Transportation Engineering Subject Guide:
 http://www.library.gatech.edu/research_help/subject/index.php?/transpor
tation
 Environmental Engineering Subject Guide:
 http://www.library.gatech.edu/research_help/subject/index.php?/environ
mental
IV. Hands On
 Exercises
 Find EIS or equivalent documents for your projects
- GFTR (Government Funded Technical Reports) EIS Collection:
http://govreports.library.gatech.edu/handle/123456789/10214
-> Digitized full text/image
- GIL Catalog (http://gil.gatech.edu/)
-> Print, MF, or online
- NTIS (http://www.library.gatech.edu/search/databases.php?/dbs/N)
-> MF on 2 East
- NuCat (http://nucat.library.northwestern.edu/)
-> For ILL contact Li