ENGL 1301 @ NLC Library 

HANDOUTS

• Library Essentials -
• Using Online Databases -
• Developing a Search Strategy -
• Controversial Topics -
• Evaluating Websites -   
• Citation Guide  

ACTIVITIES 

Guess the Google

Types of Periodicals

Scholarly vs. Popular Articles 

Use it or Lose it - Quia Activity

Use it or Lose it!

• The Language of Text Messaging
• Text Messaging and IM
• 15 Years of Text Messages, a Cultural Phenomenon

Want books? Use:

ALAMO LIBRARY ONLINE CATALOG 

• Mobile Communication and Technology
• Smart Mobs
• 24/7
• New Tech, New Ties
• Small Tech: The Culture of Digital Tools 

Want articles? Use:

ELECTRONIC DATABASES 

• Academic Search Complete
• Academic OneFile
• Info Trac Custom Newspapers
• Opposing Viewpoints Center
• Computer Database (Gale) 

SEARCH STRATEGIES

• Boolean - AND, OR, NOT
• Field searching - Subject, Author, Title
• Quotation marks for exact phrase
• Truncation - root + variants (*) 
• Database Limiters: date, publication type, type, peer-reviewed, etc.

OPTIONS FOR FULL-TEXT - Where is the actual article???

•  PDF or HTML in database
• A to Z Online Journal Locator
• IDB & ILL

NEED HELP? Contact Us!

Call: (210) 486-5388

Email: nlc-reference@alamo.edu

Library Instructor(s): Julie Nichols, Linda Plevak