The M.D. Anderson Library is hosting a series of workshops to help students navigate through online resources.
"The library workshop, in particular, is designed to introduce students to the many services and opportunities available to assist them in their learning here at the University," Margaret Dunn, a senior library assistant who teaches the workshop, said at Monday’s workshop.
Diane Bruxvoort, assistant dean for collection services, said knowing how to search an online database could serve as an effective tool for students.
"We have over 300 databases," said Bruxvoort. "If you know where to look, you can find great stuff."
The library offers academic databases ranging from broad academic searches to major-specific databases, such as PsychINFO for psychology or SciFinder Scholar for science-related research.
"I think the workshops are helpful because they help you learn about the library and what is at your disposal," pre-pharmacy Rachavadee Yakong said.
Dunn also told students about other resources the library offers, such as interlibrary loan, where material that is not found in print or electronic form in the University Library System is either borrowed or copied from other libraries that own the material.
"We have over 2 million books in this library," Bruxvoort said. "But no one can have everything. Through interlibrary loan, we can get students whatever they want; it opens a whole world of resources, and it’s a free service."
Dunn said students do not have to spend all of their time at the library to find resources-a tip that biology sophomore Joancy Archeval learned.
"Being able to log in from home is big for me," Archeval said. "I didn’t know how to log in from home."
For the curious, you can log in through http://info.lib.uh.edu/ using your PeopleSoft ID.
Only five students had attended Monday’s workshop, and Archaeval said that students are missing out on an opportunity to learn about the library.
"More students could benefit if they knew more about (the workshops) because they teach a lot about the library and everything that’s in school," Archeval said.
The library will host two more library survival workshops scheduled this month at 10 a.m. Tuesday and at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 in Room 106R, M.D. Anderson Library.
"We recognize that few people have used a library of this size," Bruxvoort said. "If you don’t know-just ask. The librarians are a really service-oriented group of people. We’re here to help the students do better with their education and we’re glad to help any time."
Students can obtain additional information on these workshops by visiting http://info.lib.uh.edu/ and looking under the Services link.
