1. Pathfinder Project
Using Information Structure to
Develop Answering Skill
LIS 601 Introduction to Reference and Information Services
Spring 2013
Dr. Diane Nahl
University of Hawaii LIS Program
3. Pathfinder Project
• Assignment Instructions pp.5-6
1. Select a partner, library, topic & audience
2. Topics are fairly specific
3. Broad topics cover too much material
4. Hawaii topics might not be well represented
in general databases & reference sources,
but can work as a sub-topic
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4. Pathfinder Exercise 1
1. In pairs, examine one Pathfinder (online or
paper) or LIS 601 LibGuide.
2. Read the assignment instructions & locate
each numbered requirement on the
Pathfinder.
3. Examine & discuss its style, readability &
adherence to instructions.
4. Repeat with another pathfinder & compare
the two. Nahl LIS 601 2013 4
5. Pathfinder Outline
Identify the partners
Identify the topic
Identify the audience
Identify the library
Identify some LCSH search terms
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6. Library of Congress
Subject Headings LCSH
The Big Red Books (5 volumes, A-Z)
Authorized topic words assigned by LC
catalogers
Controlled Vocabulary
Appear in the Subject(s): field of the online
catalog record structure
Searchable from within a record
(a lateral search strategy)
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7. LCSH Syndetic Structure
Communal living (M ay Subd Geog)
[HQ970-HQ972]
Here are entered works on arrangements in
voluntary cooperative living, usually informal,
including the communes that flourished
beginning in the 1960's...
UF Communal settlements
Communes
Cooperative living
Counter culture
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8. LCSH Syndetic Structure
UF = Used For = used instead of
Communal living (is Used For or instead of)
Communal settlements
Communes
Cooperative living
Counter culture
{The UF words & phrases are not LCSH}
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9. LCSH Syndetic Structure
Communal living [cont.]
RT Collective settlements
Housing, Cooperative
Communal marriage
USE Group marriage
Communal natural resources
USE Natural resources, Communal
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11. LCSH Syndetic Structure
Communicable diseases [cont.]
SA Individual communicable diseases,
e.g. Q fever
--Diagnosis
--Hospitals
--Prevention
NT Isolation (Hospital care)
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12. LCSH Subdivisions
• Common Form Subdivisions
– Text pp. 45-46
– http://library.princeton.edu/departments/tsd/katmandu/reference/for
msubdiv.html
• Standard "Free-floating” & Form Subdivisions:
-- Abstracts -- Fiction -- Periodicals
-- Bibliography -- Handbooks, manuals, etc. -- Pictorial works
-- Biography -- History -- Poetry
-- Case studies -- Humor -- Popular works
-- Databases -- Indexes -- Scores
-- Description and travel -- Interviews -- Sex differences
-- Diaries -- Juvenile literature -- Social aspects
-- Dictionaries -- Law and legislation -- Social life and customs
-- Directories -- Maps -- Study and teaching
-- Encyclopedias Nahl LIS 601 2013 -- Statistics 12
13. LCSH Exercise
1. What is the call number for works on
children?
2. Is Children the appropriate heading
for material about 13 year olds?
3. What heading would you use to find
material on children of Afganistan?
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14. LCSH Exercise
4. Which terms are not used to search for
materials on children when you want to
do a pure LCSH search?
5. Is Age groups a subdivision under
the heading Children?
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15. LCSH Exercise
6. What is the appropriate heading for
materials on Mozart as a child?
7. Which LCSH term(s) would you use to
search for materials on kids who have
been molested or mistreated?
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16. LCSH Exercise
CHILDREN (May Subd Geog)
[HQ767.8-HQ792.2]
Here are entered works on people from
birth through twelve years of age.
UF Childhood
Pedology (Child study)
BT Age groups
Family
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17. LCSH Exercise
CHILDREN [cont.]
SA subdivision Childhood and youth under
names of individual persons; also
subdivision Children under individual wars,
e.g., World War, 1939-1945--Children
NT Abused children
Adopted children
Adult children
--Abuse of
USE Child abuse
--Attitudes
--Biography
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18. Pathfinder Exercise 2
1. Partners work together.
2. Select a preliminary topic & write a few words
that describe it.
3. Look them up in LCSH.
4. Examine all Subject Headings related to the
topic, follow all SAs, RTs & NTs
5. Write down a set of LCSH terms for the topic to
use as a starting point for the search strategy.
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19. Thinking
Through Information Structure
Handouts pp. 2-5
Information Structure of Reference
Sources
Categories of Information in
Answer-Providing Sources
Data & Access Tools
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20. Search Work
Search Work (Green) pp. 2-7
Read pp. 2-7 about Search Work & SW1a:
Print Indexes & Abstracts for January 22.
No online sources should be used for
Search Work 1A.
The 601 Bibliography lists sources to use for
the search work.
Search Work assignment begins in class
next week (not for homework this week) .
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21. Due January 22
Email your Pathfinder Outline: partner names, library,
topic, audience & LC Subject Headings
One (1) email message with both partners’ email
address on the header so I can reply to both at once,
paste the Outline in the message
Free Jing account
HANDOUTS pp. 6-13
Read REFERENCE SEARCH WORK pp. 2-7
TEXT CHAPTER 8
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22. Outline Due January 22
From: leonlee@hawaii.edu
CC: rhatfield@hawaii.edu
Subject: Lee & Hatfield Pathfinder Outline
Partners: Leon Lee and Roberta Hatfield
Library: Manoa Public Library
Topic: Solar Energy Solutions for the Home
Audience: Adults interested in reducing their
personal energy usage and energy costs.
LCSH: SOLAR ENERGY – COST EFFECTIVENESS;
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION; SOLAR
AIRCONDITIONING; SOLAR BATTERIES
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