Information Guide for Recreation 200 - Updated Spring 2007
ONE: Information from Books
Use Reference Books for overviews of a topic and for authoritative, key facts
Examples:
Dictionary of Concepts in Recreation & Leisure Studies........................................Ref GV 11 S57
Encyclopedia of Leisure and Outdoor Recreation................................................. Ref GV 11 E55
Management of Park & Recreation Agencies........................................................Ref SB 486 M35 M3
Travel Industry World Yearbook......................................................................... Ref G 155 A1 B54

Use Main Collection Books for in depth information. Search the Library catalog. Enter words that describe a topic.
Examples: Recreation careers; Leisure Social Aspects United States; Recreation statistics

 

TWO: Information from Journal Articles

Articles usually focus in detail on a specific aspect of a subject. Articles are usually more current than books. Use one or more of the following databases to find articles on recreation topics.

PATH: ReSEARCH Station / Articles and Databases /
See below for Search Tips when using a library database.

EBSCOhost logoAcademic Search covers all subjects. Check the "scholarly / peer reviewed" box to limit
to scholarly journals. Follow links to full text or click Find It for library availability

EBSCOhost logoPsycInfo focuses on psychological subjects and scholarly research. Use if for social or psychological aspects of leisure. The Find Itlinks tell you if the library has the article, and where it is.

lexis/nexis logoUse Lexis Nexis to find full text newspaper articles - U.S. and worldwide. Use Quick Search for U.S. and world news. Use Guided News Search to limit to a U.S. region or state.

EBSCOhost logoSportDiscus indexes articles on leisure, recreation, tourism, parks, sports & games, handicapped activities. It includes many items the Library doesn't have access to, as well as many we do have. Use Find It links to see if the library has the articles.

 

down arrow

down arrow


THREE: Database Tips and Tricks (for finding articles using a database)

oneDon't use whole sentences or phrases Example: Do bike helmets really help prevent injury?


twoDO use keywords combined with and, or, not.

Use and to find both words: e.g. bicycle helmets and injuries. And narrows a search, finds fewer, more relevant items.

Use or to find one word or the other: e.g. (injuries or safety) and bicycle helmets. Or expands a search, finds more items.

threeExpect to review and refine your search a few times to find the best items

Are your articles too general? Are there hundreds? Did you find too few? Can't find anything?
TO FIND FEWER, MORE RELEVANT ITEMS TO FIND MORE ITEMS
Add another keyword connected with and
Use similar or related words: (recreation or leisure)
(travel or tourism) (trend or forecast or projection)
Use more specific words Use * at the end of a word to find variant endings:
child* finds child or children
Search for title words or subject words only. Look for "title words" or "subject words" or advanced search options. Use a different database

down

down

down


FOUR: Finding the Actual Articles

To find the text of an article (online or in the library) look for:

  1. Full text, HTML or PDF links. Click to see the article. An article in pdf is THE SAME as an article in a print journal. Articles in HTML format require a slightly different citation form. See APA Basics and Citing Full Text Articles on the Library Handouts page http://www.csuchico.edu/lins/handouts/

  2. A link to Find It Click it to see if the journal is available online or in the library.
    1. Meriam Library Catalog means some issues are in the library. Click Meriam Library Catalog and look at the Chico Has line to see what issues are available in the library. Write down the call number to find them on the shelf.

    2. A database name (Academic Search, ABI Inform, Science Direct, etc.) means the article is available online
      1. Click the database name in red and continue until you find the article. You may have to search again, within the database, or find the article by year, volume and page.

    3. Interlibrary Loan: If the source journal is not available, you can submit an I.L.L. request and the library will get a copy of the article from another library for you. Please allow 8-10 days for the article to arrive.

  3. If you don't see any of the above links, use the Meriam Library * Periodicals List
    PATH: ReSEARCH Station / Periodicals List.
    1. Type the name of the journal you are looking for (or browse alphabetically)
    2. If the library has access to that journal, you will be pointed to either a full text database that contains the articles, or to the Meriam Library Catalog for the call number of the print journal.
    3. If the library does not have access to the journal, you may request the article from interlibrary loan.

 

FIVE: Evaluating Information sources

Whether you use books, journals, magazines or web sites as your information sources, you should always try to determine their accuracy and reliability. The CRAAP Test suggests ways to do this.

What are you waiting for? Is that web site (book, article....) credible or is it a bunch of ...?!


MoreQuestions??? Ask at the reference desk, Meriam Library second floor or Ask-A-Librarian via email.