ACCESSING LIBRARY MATERIALS (RESOURCES) IN AUCHI

POLYTECHNIC LIBRARY - A PRACTICAL APPROACH

By Olusheun Ekuoye

Polytechnic Librarian

A WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY ASUP ON FRIDAY MARCH 23, 2012.

Introduction

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change” Charles Darwin

As academic staff we should be flexible and responsive to change. We need to move with the tide of information technology even as it relates to learning, teaching and research.

The general topic of this workshop is Accessing Auchi polytechnic library resources. This particular series amplifies e-library resources.

What are library resources?

These are resources (or sources of information) used to provide information to library users. These are resources used to meet the need of users. The library resources can be classed into two:

•Traditional resources/sources•e-library resources

Irrespective of the classification above, below are the resources of a library

•Newspapers•Journals and magazines•Circulation materials•Reference and reserved materials

•Others (Government & organizational publications)

ACCESSING NEWSPAPERS

Demonstration: 1

Archived newspapersThe Guardian newspaper of March 2009. This should be distributed among staff

Demonstration: 2

Online papers

Select a browser, type in auchipoly.edu.ng on the address bar. Auchi Polytechnic website home page appears. On your left hand corner of the page, find E-Library Resources and click when the hand symbol shows up.

On this new page, find Nigerian Newspapers online on the left hand side of your screen. three newspapers can be read here.

Demonstration: 3

ACCESSING JOURNALS

Select a browser, type in auchipoly.edu.ng on the address bar. Auchi Polytechnic website home page appears. On your left hand corner of the page, find E-Library Resources and click when the hand symbol shows up.

On this new page, when you scroll down, you will find links to free journal sites. Click on any.

Alternatively after selecting a browser, type in auchipoly.edu.ng on the address bar. Auchi Polytechnic website home page appears. On this page, move your cursor horizontally beneath the AUCHI POLYTECHNIC column to find Library. This will prompt About Library and e-journals/e-books. Click on the e-journals/e-books. Select, jstore or any other available journal site.

ACCESSING BOOKS

Accessing Science Direct e-resources is Internet Protocol (IP) sensitive for subscribing institutions.

Demonstration: 4

Select a browser, type in auchipoly.edu.ng on the address bar. Auchi Polytechnic website home page appears. On your left hand corner of the page, find E-Library Resources and click when the hand symbol shows up. On this new page, scroll down to find ScienceDirect. Click on this and the home page of science direct opens up.

Alternatively after selecting a browser, type in auchipoly.edu.ng on the address bar. Auchi Polytechnic website home page appears. On this page, move your cursor horizontally beneath the AUCHI POLYTECHNIC column to find Library. This will prompt About Library and e-journals/e-books. Click on the e-journals/e-books. Select, Science Direct. This takes you to the home page of Science Direct

Demonstration: 5

Step 1Science direct website is, http://www.sciencedirect.com

Type the site on your browser and the home page shows up

Step 2

Register yourself at this home page. Registration is necessary because it helps you to personalize your searches. To register,

•select “Register” at the top right side of the science direct home page

•a drop down menu shows up. Fill in your details

•then click “Register”

Advantages of registering

•searches can be personalized•your search history can be saved for future use•your searches can be edited any time•you can receive alert for new publication and information via your email from time to time

Step 3

Finding information

Science direct covers ebooks and ejournals. Auchi Polytechnic with few other Federal Polytechnics subscribed to only the following ebooks databases:

•Agriculture and biological sciences•Computer sciences•Engineering•Environmental sciences•Finance•Media Technology•Business, Management, Hospitality and Tourism

Please note that you can only download information from the above areas and the subscriptions covers up to 2008.

There are two options to finding information:

Option A - Browsing the database

Option B – Direct search that is advanced search

Option – A

Browsing

Browsing can be by title or by subject area.

Option – B

Keywords or search terms are necessary here.

Final demonstration using google: 6

CONCLUSION

As a librarian it is true that we do not manufacture or prescribe drugs. We do not build bridges or raise towers or even construct engines like engineers. We do not even paint pictures except as amateurs for our own amusement. We are not seen in lab coats, wigs or gowns.

There is little of all that we do that is seen. We smooth out difficulties and relieve stress. We support teaching, learning and research. We gather the histories, traditions, culture, findings, observations, feeling, imaginations, discoveries and inventions of man in any state. We stand for everything about man and the world.

As librarians, we keep yesterdays, yesteryears and today for generations to come to improve on. We are flexible and blendable (F&B).

THE END

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION