By completing this exercise, you will learn to navigate through MaagNet, OhioLINK, and a couple of helpful databases for the type of research required in English 551. It's important to note that MaagNet and OhioLINK are menu-driven. That is, all of your options are available on the screen. The most often used commands are N (to start a new search), F ( to go ahead one record or screen), B (to go back one record or screen), or R (to return to a list of titles).

As you proceed through the exercise, you'll notice how remarkably similar the screens appear. Get in the habit of checking the upper right-hand corner of the screen to make sure you are searching the appropriate area of the system. In other words, you don't want to search a periodical database if you are looking for books located in Maag Library.

If you get stuck or lost, take a few seconds to read the screen. Check the upper right-hand corner to make sure you are in the correct area, and read the available options.

Finding Books in Maag Library

A. Locating Books

When looking for a book in Maag Library, you should note the book's call number, location, and status. Materials in Maag Library are arranged alphabetically by their call numbers, which begin with a letter or a combination of letters. (Each call number represents a broad subject area.) Although you are given a substantial amount of information about an item in its online record, you must consult the How to Find What You Want handout to figure out where (floor and location) you can find an item.

Start at the main menu of MaagNet to answer these questions:

1. If you are at the MaagNet main menu, what does the screen say in the upper right-hand corner?
2. How many books by Raymond Carver does Maag Library own?
3. On what floor in Maag can you find most of Carver's books? (Browse through the individual records and take note of the call numbers.)
4. Which book of Carver's is located on floor 6A? Why is it there and not with the others? (Hint: The reason is not that the book is oversized.)
5. Which book of Carver's was donated in memory of Candace Gay?

B. Choosing a subject or word search.

To search for materials on a certain topic, you can do either a subject or a word search. However, it's important to understand that they are very different types of searches that can produce very different results. A subject search is a controlled language search which gathers records with a specific subject heading assigned by the Library of Congress. This search strategy typically results in a high number of relevant records, but you must use the correct subject heading. A word search, on the other hand, is an uncontrolled search using natural language. This type of search retrieves records which contain the given word(s) in the title, subject, or content notes. Although you will retrieve more entries, this search is imprecise and can result in a high numbers of "false hits." Try a subject search first, and then if you aren't retrieving any items or aren't retrieving enough items, try a word search. It's best to remain flexible when searching. Use different words and types of approaches to achieve the bests results.

Return to MaagNet's main menu to answer these questions:

1. What happens when you do a subject search using the phrase "heart attack"?
2. What happens when you do a word search using the phrase "heart attack"?
3. What happens when you do a subject search using the word "AIDS"?
4. What happens when you do a word search using the word "AIDS"?

C. Using the limit feature.

When searching, if you retrieve a large number of records or if you must work within certain parameters, make use of the of the databases limit feature, which allows you to restrict results. After conducting a search, type the letter L, and a screen listing the possible limits will appear. Perhaps the most common or often used limit is year of publication. As always follow the on-screen directions, which will take you through the necessary steps.

1. Do a word search using the word "censorship." (Use these results for the next two questions.) How many total entries are found?
2. How many of these entries were published after 1992? (Type L to select the correct limit.)
3. Hit R to return to the results of your word search on censorship. This time, find a government document that discusses censorship. (First, type L and then select W for where the item is located. You'll find a location for government documents in that list.) What are its title and call number? Where in the library can you find it?

If Maag Library does not own a book or if the book is checked out or missing, you can request the book though OhioLINK. In general, it takes 3-5 working days for an item to arrive. As always, follow the on-screen directions to request items. You'll need a library barcode to do this.

To connect to OhioLINK, start at MaagNet's main menu, and press U (search OhioLINK Central Catalog).

1. What does it say in the upper right-hand corner of the screen of the OhioLINK main menu?
2. How many entries by Raymond Carver does OhioLINK list?
3. How many OhioLINK libraries own Carver's Dostoevsky: A Screenplay?
4. What key do you press to begin your request from OhioLINK?

From MaagNet's main menu, select C (Connect to other databases) and then select D (Reference Databases (Alphabetical Listing). Select Periodical Abstracts.

Periodical Abstracts is good general database providing access to a wide variety of popular and academic publications. In addition, this database also contains selected full-text articles (PowerPages) which can be requested for 10 cents a page and sent to the circulation desk usually within an hour. About 35% of the articles indexed in this databases are full-text. Follow on-screen directions to request an article. A library barcode is required. PowerPage articles are indicated by the following message:

For articles that are not full-text, select the display holdings feature to see if Maag owns the journal or magazine the article appears in. In Maag , periodicals (magazines, journals, and newspapers) are located on the lower level, but they may be shelved different ways. While some current periodicals are kept at the Serials Desk, most journals or magazines from the current year are located on the display shelves in alphabetical order. Older journals, however, are assigned a call number and shelved in call number order. In addition, certain periodicals may be found on microfilm.

1. What does it say in the upper right-hand corner of the main menu?
2. Do a word search using the phrase "interracial adoption." How many entries are found?

(Use the results of this search to answer questions #3-6.)

3. Who is the author of the first full-text article?
4. How much would it cost to request a copy of the article "Adopting Racism" through PowerPages?
5. Find an article on interracial adoption published in the National Black Law Journal. Look up that articles individual record. Using the display holdings feature, note how many holdings are listed for that journal in OhioLINK. Is YSU's Maag Library one of them?
6. Locate the article entitled "IQ Correlations in Transracial Adoptive Families." Is it possible to find a copy of this article in Maag Library? Explain your answer.
7. Locate the article entitled "What's the Difference" by Daniel Goldstine on interracial adoption. In what form would you find this article in Maag Library?

Because Maag doesn't own most of the newspapers indexed in this database, limit your findings to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, or the Los Angeles Times. (You can limit by only one newspaper title at a time.)

1. Do a word search using the phrase "internet censorship." Limit your findings to those from the New York Times. How many entries are found?
2. Who wrote "Censorship at Issue on the Internet" published in the New York Times on 1-28-96?
3. Hit "r" two times in order to return to the list of all entries with the words "internet censorship." Then limit your findings to the Washington Post. What is the title of the article published on 10-21-96?

If you have a barcode, try to check your circulation record. Get back to the main menu of MaagNet.

Follow the directions on the screen to go back. Read carefully. The directions to exit, return, or go back a step change from screen to screen.

1. List five types of information you can find in your circulation record.

Exercise created by:
Reference Department
Maag Library
Youngstown State University

E-mail your comments and suggestions to the YSU Grant Team (cardcat@bgnet.bgsu.edu).