UF4U: CardCat, Part Two

I missed last week's post due to attending ALA Annual. Now, let's return to our regularly scheduled blogging.

Several weeks ago, I wrote about an easily missed feature of CardCat. Now, another change has come around the bend: user logins!

When you access CardCat from the links on the library homepage, you'll automatically be taken to a screen that asks you to enter your BSU username and password. If you'd just like to do a quick search of the catalog, you can do that without logging in by clicking the link close to the middle of the page, "Use CardCat without logging in." Check out the screenshot for a more detailed look.

So, why log in? Just like with everything else these days, customization provides flexibility that people enjoy. By giving you access to a CardCat "account, " there are many things that can be offered that couldn't have been before, like online renewals.

If you have something checked out, but can't make it in to the library, log in and extend your borrowing time. (Note that some items can't be renewed, or have limits to the number of times they can be renewed.)

There is a list of available features right there for you on the login screen. Poke around and see if you find something you like. CardCat login is just one more example of why you don't have to be in the library to use it.

Citations with Style and a Useful Feature or Two

Synthesizing your own thoughts with the thoughts of others is common in most projects at the college level. To avoid plagiarism, you must report the external sources of ideas and information by citing them. We have several resources available to you that help put your citations in the proper format (check with your instructor for his/her preferred format). This week, I'll cover the resources available at the University Libraries, as well as point out some helpful features of popular databases.

As part of our Virtual Reference Shelf, we have a short list of resources that cover citing sources in two standard formats: APA and MLA.

You may not be aware, but some of our databases have help for putting citations in the proper format, too. For example, Academic Search Premier's Help file has detailed instructions for not only APA and MLA citation formats, but for Turabian (Chicago Manual of Style) and AMA, as well. To access the Help file,

1. Click on the link labeled "Help" in the upper right corner of the main page. Then,
2. On the page that pops up, scroll down until you see the "Citation Styles" section on the left, and click on the help topic of your choice. (See the screenshot for details.)

Another database, CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), illustrates a different example of how electronic resources can help you cite sources. When you run a search in CINAHL and click a title in the list of resulting articles, you have the option of printing or e-mailing the record to yourself. If you choose the e-mail option, CINAHL will let you pick the citation style you'd like to use. Take a look at the screenshot for more information. Note: This feature is also available in Academic Search Premier and other EBSCOhost databases.

A WORD OF WARNING: Contrary to popular belief, computers are dumb. They try their best to put these citations in the proper format, but goof up sometimes. Always double check that automatic citation-makers have put the parts of the reference (e.g., article title and dates) in the order specified by your instructor.

UF4U: CardCat

You know how when you go to the library and are in the stacks looking for a particular book, and while you're searching the shelves, you stumble across an equally interesting book you'd like to check out? You'll be glad to know that even if you can't physically visit Bracken Library, you can still browse the shelves! This week, I'm highlighting another Useful Feature for You in CardCat, Ball State's online library catalog.

CardCat has a great feature where you can search items on the shelf near the one you're displaying on your screen. Just look for the Nearby items on shelf link on the left-hand side of the screen. See the screenshot for a clearer view.

So, when might you want to use this feature? Well, say you're interested in a book on a particular topic like "nursing management." You enter the search in CardCat and find a book you'd like to get via interlibrary loan. If you click on the Nearby items on shelf link, CardCat will show you a list of other items dealing with similar subjects which may relate to your original search. It does involve a little bit of good fortune to find useful items this way, but it can help you see what the library has on a broad subject, at the very least.

This is another great example as to why you don't have to be in the library to use it!

Useful Features For You (UF4U)

This week, I'd like to point out a feature that you may have noticed while using some of the resources available from the University Libraries: Find It @ BSU.

When you click on this icon while searching a database offered by the University Libraries, you access a powerful tool that can help you to find the information you need.

An article citation in a database may not have full text available. Clicking on the Find It icon brings up a window like the one in the screenshot. There are typically 3 parts to a Find It window:

• Full text - If a full text version of an article is available in a database other than the one you're searching, it will be listed here. Click on the blue "Go" button to be taken to the new database. Your results may vary when you click Go, so be aware that in most cases, you'll want to have the year, volume, and page numbers handy as you try to locate the link to the article.

• CardCat - If a full text version is not found, clicking the Go button next to the CardCat section will run a search for the title of the magazine or journal (not the article) in CardCat. If BSU Libraries subscribes to that journal, a record for that title will pop up. Look at the Holdings information and that will give you the location of the particular volume number you need.

• Interlibrary Loan / ILLiad - Clicking the Go button in this section will take you to the ILLiad login screen. Follow the instructions to request the article via interlibrary loan. Please be aware that if full text of the article is available, interlibrary loan will not appear as an option on the Find It screen.
  

That's it for this week! Keep an eye out for other Useful Features for You highlighted in my weekly blog posts. If you have questions about this feature, feel free to use our Ask a Librarian services or leave a comment below.

As always, remember you don't have to be in the library to use it!