SECTION 4 LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT
NAME:_____________________________________
Note: - If the library is intimidating, take a tour or go with a classmate (you must each find different references). Do as much as you can without asking a librarian. This assignment requires problem solving skills. Doing it at the last minute could be frustrating (do it early). Bio-base is a critical part of this assignment. Don't turn it in unless it contains evidence that you've successfully used Bio-Base.
1- Look at the online User guides. Look at the Biography users guide. What are the first two resources listed on this guide?
2- To begin a biographical search you need names. Find ARBA Guide to Biographical Resources (REF CT103.A722). Note that other lists of biographical resources can be found on the internet, e.g.. Browse through the ARBA guide and find a subject area dictionary (LC# that doesn't begin with C) that interests you. Give its name and LC (Library of Congress) number (from IRIS) below:
3- List below the names of three interesting people from this dictionary. Avoid athletes and actors. At least one should be someone you've never heard of. Example: some of my "interesting people"
Note: the Bio-Base assignments require initiative!
4- Find the Bio-Base microfiches (top drawer of filing cabinet (north part of reference area by the microfiche reader and Schefflera plant, ask reference librarian if you need help). Find one of your people on a microfiche. The format will resemble this sample.
5- Browse the microfiche; how could you distinguish two people with exactly the same name?
6- With the BIO-BASE KEY (Blue book) by the reader, decipher references (source books) to the person you have chosen. List full names of two references:
7- Most citations are biographical dictionaries. Bio-Base does not refer directly to magazines. (Why not?) Bio-Base refers to another reference which refers you to magazines. What is this reference? (Use the biography users guide and/or intelligent guesses followed by trial and error.) What is its catalog number? (use IRIS) Following "reference chains" is standard referencing procedure.
8- Find a reference to a magazine article for the person you chose in #4. (if you can't find one, try other person until you do). Find this article in the library, and turn in a copy of the title page with this sheet. It may take several tries to find a journal the library has.
9- Note the LC # of the biographical dictionary you used in #3. Browse this area of the reference section and also in the general stacks. Give the names of a couple of nearby books that might be useful to biographers.
If you can do these tasks efficiently, you're a biographical research expert and you could help a graduate student find biographies.