Week Three

LECTURE

Today's lecture outline online libraries and the reason they are used. Online libraries are used for three main reasons: convenience, currency and accessibility. This basically means that they are available, anytime, anywhere, requiring little effort at all to access it. There is a wide diversification of information of different styles and topics that are readily available. They are also more kept up-to-date with the relevant information (as compared with books which become out of date quickly), and can be copied and pasted easily, to assist in note making.

Online libraries take many forms including: electronic books, online journals, artworks, musical pieces and online text databases. They are most likely more convenient than anything else and can prove to be extremely useful.

However, there are limitations and downsides. Most of the time, only the catalogue is available online. This means that you may only browse the collection and not use the information. Some times databases can be accessed for a small fee for using their resources. As with music and artworks, you are viewing copies, and as a result, the resolution and quality may be reduced.

Of course, when using someone else's work or ideas, referencing is essential. Online libraries can be referenced using APA format, or by using EndNote, which requires APA 5th standard.

Online databases are quite similar to online libraries. They are a collection of full text documents, citations or abstracts which can be searched to find what you're looking for. E-mail directories, news and media archives and web portals, are all quality examples of online databases, as these all have archived documents and data which can be browsed via the internet.

Online databases hold many of the same advantages that online libraries do, in the convenience sense, and are still searchable and up-to-date.

Again, there are disadvantages, which include the high amounts of advertising, the compulsory subscription, navigation problems and at times, the overload of unnecessary information.

Both resource libraries are very similar. Whilst some require payment, some are also free to use at the same time.

WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES

In today's workshop activity, we were asked to evaluate the ECU library web page, and list ten functions which were useful to us.

1 - Quick Catalogue Search
Allows users to quickly search the website to locate online catalogues. It is possible to search by keywords, title and author.

2 - 'Learning to Find Information'
An interactive package which easily briefs users on how to find the information they are looking for and gives tips on how to search properly.

3 - Information About the ECU Library
This provides information to the user ranging from the library's opening and closing times to how to navigate the library website.

4 - Referencing Guide
Handy for students who need referencing guidelines, and can also be used as a backup copy incase the referencing book goes missing.

5 - Library Podcasts
This link provides information on how to listen to a podcast and what podcasts are available.

6 - News Updates
Provides the latest bulletins in relation to the university so users are kept informed.

7 - SIMO
Allows students to change their details upon logging onto the system, and provides information about enrollments etc.

8 - Multimedia Resources
This link provides help and support to those who either are having problems with equipment or have questions.

9 - Websites
Provides a list of key websites that have been selected by the ECU librarians.

10 - Loan Services
This link provides details on the procedure of loaning a book from the library.

For the final part of the workshop activities, we were required to head over to Medline Plus and complete an online tutorial. I selected the topic of memory, as it is a topic that I find extremely interesting. People suffering from memory related problems and disorders may find this information useful, along with people who with to learn more about it, such as myself, and those studying or researching the subject.