Expert Research Tip: Diversify

As a regular feature on this blog, I will share an "expert research tip."  These "tips" are the sorts of helpful hints that I normally mention in one-on-one research consultations as I'm helping a researcher think through his/her search strategies and goals.  For this first expert research tip, I'm going to tackle one of the biggest problems that I see from my seat at the reference desk.

Do not rely on just one, single database during your research (even if it's a really good one).


It's understandable that a researcher may become comfortable with a particular database and tend to focus on using that resource rather than trying out new or unfamiliar ones.  However, there are several reasons why using a variety of databases can be an extremely valuable research tactic for you HNFE folks.

1.  All information isn't stored in one place.  If you only use one database (e.g., PubMed), you are ignoring potentially relevant journals and other publications that have been indexed in other databases.  These publications could be valuable to your research, so don't exclude them just because they're not part of your favorite database.

2.  The interdisciplinary nature of scholarship.  Research used and created by those of you in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise can rarely be categorized within one area of research.  When studying, for example, behavioral interventions for physical activity and nutrition, many areas of research converge.  You're looking at aspects of psychology, sociology, biology, medicine, environment, and more.  Many databases are pretty subject-specific, so if you focus your search in one of these databases, you may be missing some very relevant information.  Brainstorming potentially relevant areas of research can lead you to new resources--such as PsycINFO, Sociological Abstracts, and AGRICOLA--that will ultimately strengthen and round out your research.

3.  Database organization & controlled vocabularies.  Different databases organize information in different ways, and even use different vocabularies (subject headings, or tags) to help you find the information.  PubMed, for example, uses Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to organize its information, which represent different terms than those used by ISI Web of Science or CINAHL.  When you visit different databases and gather different terminology that gets at the concept you're researching, you automatically build a larger vocabulary bank that can help you widen your search and find articles that your original search terms may have excluded.

4.  It is now possible to search multiple databases simultaneously.  And, it's easy.  Although we (the Libraries) don't offer one search box for all of our databases, we're getting pretty close.  If you're interested in discovering how to do this, check out the VT Libraries page devoted to this:  http://www.lib.vt.edu/find/federated/.  It offers directions and helpful hints for navigating this type of research.

In my next post, I will offer a tutorial on using Google Scholar to access journal articles and other full-text information resources offered by VT Libraries.  Google Scholar may have its downsides, but it can be awfully helpful in finding information in places that you may not have thought to look.

Locavores & the Library

VT 2010 Common Book selection

Did you see the article about the VT EarthWorks Locavore Directory in VT News this morning?  Local food is everywhere these days, even the library!  If you're interested in seeing what sort of information Virginia Tech Libraries has on local food and related topics, check out the Local Food Subject Guide (created earlier this summer), part of our Sustainability Research Guides series.

We're especially excited that this year's Common Book selection focuses on local food.  We anticipate offering some interesting programming related to the Common Book later this fall, so stay tuned for that!

Interlibrary Loan Update

Photo courtesy of University Libraries website

Your Interlibrary Loan items now have a new home!  As of yesterday (July 26, 2010), you can now pick up Interlibrary Loan items at the Circulation Desk on the second floor of Newman Library--quick and easy!

What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?  Well, Interlibrary Loan is the service that we offer you when we don't own the books, articles, or other resources that you may need for your research and instruction.  If you ever come across anything that you can't find in Addison or through Get VText, simply fill out a request for it with Interlibrary Loan.  A recent (2008) assessment of our ILL service showed that 74% of all items were received within 7 days of their request.   Turnaround time for journal articles is usually even faster; over 91% of the articles requested are received electronically!

For more information about Interlibrary Loan (services, FAQs, and more), simply visit their webpage:  http://www.lib.vt.edu/ill/index.html.

Trial Access to NBC News Archives on Demand

Newman Library frequently tries out databases and other electronic resources, just to see how relevant and appropriate they may or may not be for the VT community; we offer the resources to the community, and invite comments and opinions.  On this blog, I will highlight any trials that HNFE may be interested in weighing in on, the first of which is the NBC News Archives on Demand.


NBC News Archives includes over 10,000 video clips, historic newsreels, images, photographs, articles, and primary source documents.  There are 30 broad collections, each encompassing hundreds of topics.  Collections that may be of special interest to HNFE include:  Health & Wellness, Environmental Sciences, Psychology, and other interdisciplinary news items.  While the information offered in this resource is definitely more popular than scholarly, it offers an interesting perspective on 20th century trends and news reporting, supplementing scholarly material relating to the same topics.

The database trial is currently accessible through IP addresses associated with Virginia Tech, so trying the database on campus would be the easiest way to use it.  Trial access is through 10/23/2010, and you can send comments, questions, and other feedback directly to me via email (millerrk at vt dot edu) or the comment form on the right side of this blog.  If you have recommendations for other databases or resources that you'd like to try out like this, just let me know!

Greetings!

As the HNFE librarian, I take my role as the University Libraries liaison to the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise very seriously.  I am here to serve the faculty, staff, and students of this department in any way that I can.   I am always open to new ideas and eager to start new projects, so please, let me know how we can work together. 


I recently read that HNFE is largest department within CALS--over 800 students, and a sizable faculty working with these students!  My goal in starting this blog is to serve HNFE by delivering frequently and timely information so that members of this large community will be able to accomplish their mission of delivering, translating, and disseminating health-related advances in the nutrition, food, and exercise sciences.  Several times a week, I will be posting new resources relevant to HNFE, expert research tips, library news and updates, and other appropriate news items.  General communications (mainly email) with HNFE will be archived as posts to this blog, as well.  


Please leave comments or questions related to posts, and feel free to contact me!  I am really looking forward to working with all of you.