Getting to the Coastline Online Library

        There are three ways to get to the Coastline Online Library:

1. In the "go to" box of your web browser, type in the URL ("Universal Resource Locator" or web address): library.ccc.cccd.edu.
2. From the Coastline Community College Home Page, click on "Services" link and then click on "Library".
3. Once you've been to the library, bookmark the site or set it as a "Favorites" depending on your web browser.

  What is in the Coastline Online Library?


Click for a video message from the librarian

• "Curriculum Links" -- links to pre-evaluated Internet sites which effectively support Coastline curriculum. The links are organized by subject discipline.

• "Ask The Librarian" -- links to a page from which student may ask a question or request assistance with a research project. The librarian will respond within 72 hours by email.

• "Frequently Asked Questions" -- a collection of answers to commonly posed questions.

• "Internet Reference Resources" -- like the Reference Section in a traditional  bricks-and-mortar library, internet reference resources provides access to online ready-reference tools, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, periodicals, other online libraries, Internet search engines, directories, and newspapers.

• "Welcome to the Library" -- an audio-visual welcome from the librarian (requires RealVideo software).

• "Tutorials and Library Instruction" -- links to existing information competency resources and training modules for writing, Internet searching, and Internet site evaluation.

• "Local Community College Collections" -- links to online catalogs at Golden West, Orange Coast, Cypress, and Fullerton colleges.

• "Electronic Resources" -- links to online subscription databases which provide access to full-text articles from journals, newspapers,   books, and other print sources. Also, link to the index for CD-ROM programs available at the Garden Grove Information Commons.

• "Site Recommendations" -- students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to recommend excellent sites for inclusion in "Curriculum Links."

• "Feedback" -- students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to provide comments, suggestions, and criticisms regarding the online library. User feedback is vital to the health and vitality of any library.

  What in the world is "Information Competency?"

• Information competency, information literacy, and information skills mean essentially the same thing: the ability to find, evaluate, use, store, and retrieve information efficiently and effectively. These terms also suggest a knowledge of what information is, and its various forms and sources.

• The basic competencies of the information-capable student are:
• Student recognizes when information is needed, can formulate clear concise questions based on information needs.
• Student matches information needs to information resources and can organize an effective search strategy/plan, including use of Boolean logic.
• Student selects and uses appropriate information retrieval tools including print and electronic formats. Include Internet Basics, Online Catalog Basics, Periodical Databases, Specialized Print Indexes, Reference Books.
• Student synthesizes and organizes information for various applications.
• Student applies information to critical thinking and problem-solving situations.
• Student communicates or "publishes" research ideas electronically in textual or multimedia forms.
• Student appreciates that being information competent requires an ongoing involvement in learning and evaluating emergent technology so that lifelong learning is possible.
• Student understands how knowledge is generated, organized, stored, and transmitted.
• Student understands some of the major ethical, legal, economic, and socio-political issues surrounding information and information technology.

• Link to Texas Information Literacy Tutorial at http://tilt.lib.utsystem.edu/. Complete Modules 1, 2, and 3  (.5 to .75 hours each).

  Research

• After selecting a topic and establishing the most appropriate source for information, use of effective research techniques and appropriate resources reduces the amount of time spent on research and increases opportunities to find relevant, useful information.
• Appropriate Resources -- link to Info Search; Where's the Information? at http://www.ipl.org/teen/aplus/infosearch.htm. Study links (1-2 hours).
• Research techniques
• Evaluation of resources is an essential element of the research process.
• Evaluation consists of
1. establishing the author and the author's credentials;
2. determining the accuracy of the information;
3. confirming the timeliness of the information;
4. and determining its relevance to your research
• Several excellent Internet sites provide guidelines for evaluating online resources:
1. http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~stoerger/evaluation.html
2. http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/instruct/web/critical.htm
3. http://jhss.wrdsb.edu.on.ca/library/html/evaluate/practica.htm
4. http://jhss.wrdsb.edu.on.ca/library/html/evaluate/evalinfo.htm
5. http://manta.library.colostate.edu/howto/evalweb.html

 

  Writing/Compiling Report

• The final step in creation of an academic report is  using information found during the research phase, writing the document, and giving proper credit to  sources, or creators, of  information used in the report.
• Link to A+ Research & Writing; Step by Step at http://www.ipl.org/teen/aplus/stepfirst.htm . Study links (1-2 hours).
• What in the world is "plagiarism?"  Visit the following sites for insight into and information regarding plagiarism:
1. http://www.uwo.ca/geog/undergraduate/essay_guide/definiti.htm
2. http://english.tribble.wfu.edu/english/writing4.htm
3. http://ultibase.rmit.edu.au/Articles/gajad1.html   -- This site presents a paper titled "Issues in Plagiarism for the New Millennium: An Assessment Odyssey" written by Joan Gajadhar, Communication Lecturer, School of Information Science, The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.