enge 1215 Virginia Tech Library Notes (Comprehensive Study Guide)

Page 1: Library hours, access, and desk support

• Newman Library hours (Virginia Tech):
  • Open 24/5: $24/5$ – Sunday 9:00 AM through Friday 10:00 PM. Saturday is open during the day, but closes Saturday night, then the cycle starts over.
  • During exams: open 24/7 for a block of $12$ days.
• Other libraries on campus: typically close around $22:00$ (10:00 PM) most days.
• Answer to “Where should I go?” for help: the Second Floor Services Desk is the staffed desk with experts who can answer questions.
• If a reserved study room is in use by another party, you should politely ask them to yield; if they won’t budge, go to the desk for assistance to resolve the room reservation.
• Key takeaway: the library has both physical spaces and a robust set of online resources, with help desks for in-person support.

Page 2: Visiting VT Library and study room reservations

• VT Library is a physical building you can visit, but there is a very robust set of online resources available as well.
• Online access is valuable when it’s cold or late at night (2 AM) or you’re off-campus (home, apartment, coffee shops).
• Amenities beyond books include printers and coffee machines.
• Is VT Library only a building? No—there is a strong online resource ecosystem; however, the building is still a hub for study spaces, equipment, and services.

Page 3: Why the library has multiple floors and space design

• Why so many floors? Historically, the library housed a large number of physical books; as many books have been moved to off-campus storage, more floors were freed for study spaces, studio spaces, and other study-related facilities.
• I’ve visited the off-campus storage building and the higher floors to see how books are retrieved (a cherry picker is used to access higher shelves).
• Resource implication: storage movement freed space for modern study areas and studio spaces.
• Printing and other resources: the library offers many resources for student use; most resources are free unless specifically subject to charges.
• General policy on resources:
  • Most resources are free to students if returned on time.
  • Books have no daily late fees; if a book is overdue, it will be charged to the student account, but late fees are not charged day-by-day.
  • Technology devices (e.g., laptops, tablets) incur late fees if not returned; expect a significant charge for late return.
• Consultations, studio access, and many other services are free; printing/paper costs apply.

Page 4: Library website and Discovery Search

• Library website: liv.vt.edu (also accessible via Google search as “VT Library”). The site is a central hub for resources, space reservations, databases, and help.
• Bookmark the site and use it frequently; the site can auto-complete the address when you type the local domain.
• On the homepage: you’ll find today’s library hours, quick links, and a prominent link to book spaces.
• Ask a Librarian: a button at the bottom of the page connects you to library staff for questions and help.
• Quick navigation: reserve a space to book group study rooms and media recording studio spaces; booking in advance is recommended because spaces fill up as the day progresses.
• Finding study spaces in the library: you may need to walk around to locate a space; it tends to fill up by mid-afternoon (around 4 PM).
• Discovery Search introduction:
  • Discovery Search is a “database of databases” that aggregates access to many databases and content formats.
  • It covers roughly 80 ext{%} of the content available at VT, including: books, eBooks, streaming video, DVDs, newspaper articles, magazine articles, dissertations, and more.
  • It spans almost all disciplines, with strong coverage for engineering and other fields; it’s a good starting point for engineering careers research.
  • VT Libraries collectively hold ~812 databases; many databases are engineering-focused, but Discovery Search is a broad starting point.
• Task guidance for a class project: use simple keywords, avoid full sentences, and leverage left-side limiters to narrow results.

Page 5: Search results, planning, and result management

• Initial search example: searching for “mechanical engineering careers” yielded approximately $385{,}000$ results, illustrating the breadth of content.
• Interpreting results counts:
  • Very high result counts indicate broad topics; consider narrowing with more keywords or date ranges.
  • Very small result counts may indicate over-restriction or misspelling; re-check spelling and adjust number of search terms.
• Refining search results:
  • Use the left-hand side limiters to narrow by date range, publication type, peer-reviewed status, subject, etc.
  • Example: narrowing to the last 10 years can dramatically reduce results to more current sources.
• Accessing full text from results:
  • Options include: Online, Read Online, the item’s title, or “Available Online” indicators.
  • Full text access can be opened via PDF (Get PDF) or other full-text options.
• Important caution about temporary links:
  • If you want to save a source for later, do not rely on the URL of a temporary link. It may expire within hours.
  • Instead, use the permanent link (permalink) or a promo link, or email the source to yourself.
  • To cite later, use the permalink icon to obtain a permanent link that can be shared or added to a bibliography.
• How to save for later and cite:
  • You can email the item, export to a citation manager (e.g., Zotero), or save a permanent link.
  • Downloading a PDF is okay for offline reading, but you may lose the persistent address needed for citation tracking.
• Example observations while scanning results:
  • You may see items from various years (e.g., 2022, 2017, 2023, 2016, 2014, and even 1939); very old items may not be relevant to current topics.
• Date-range and filters: left-hand panel allows date range selection (e.g., last 10 years) to improve relevance.

Page 6: Accessing full text, saving, and exporting

• Getting the full text from a search result:
  • If the item is available online, you’ll see an option such as Online, Read Online, or Get PDF.
  • The PDF view preserves the original publication format.
• Saving for later and permanent access:
  • Do not keep a temporary link in your browser bookmarks; it will disappear.
  • Use the permanent permalink or the promo link for sharing and future access.
  • You can email the link or export the citation to a citation manager (e.g., Zotero).
• Handling multiple results and years:
  • Results can include a mix of recent and very old items; filter by date to improve relevance.
• Using left-side filters to refine results:
  • Filters such as date, peer-reviewed status, format, subject, etc., help narrow results.
• If you encounter a broken link:
  • Use the Report a Broken Link button to notify library staff so they can fix it.
• If an item asks for payment:
  • This is a red flag; you should not pay for library content. Return to the library site and report the issue via the Ask a Librarian feature.

Page 7: Citations in practice: IEEE in-text and end references

• Citations in this course often require IEEE style.
• How IEEE citations work:
  • Two-part system: in-text citations and end-of-document references.
  • In-text citations are numbers in brackets that correspond to the numeric end reference list.
  • End references appear in the order they are cited in the text (numerical order).
• In-text citation example:
  • A sentence containing [1] would correspond to the first reference in the bibliography.
  • Additional citations are numbered sequentially: [1], [2], [3], …, [7], etc.
• Important caveats:
  • Simply copying a reference from the database is not guaranteed to be accurate; always double-check for formatting accuracy.
  • IEEE formatting details can be tricky; verify your in-text numbers and the corresponding end entries carefully.
• Practical guidance:
  • Don’t wait until the last minute to format citations; it is stressful and easy to miss details.
  • In group projects, designate one person to manage citations as a key, time-saving role.
• Zotero and citation management:
  • Zotero helps collect and organize sources and automatically generate in-text citations and bibliographies in IEEE or other styles.
  • Zotero is cloud-based and has a word-processor plugin (Zotero Connector) to insert citations directly while writing.

Page 8: Introduction to Zotero and workflow for IEEE styles

• What Zotero does:
  • Collects references, stores metadata, and formats citations in chosen styles (IEEE, APA, MLA, etc.).
  • Works with word processors via a plug-in (e.g., Word or compatible editors).
• Getting started with Zotero:
  • Download and install Zotero; set your preferred citation style (IEEE for engineering; APA for many other disciplines).
  • Install the Zotero word processor plugin (Zotero Connector) to enable inserting citations directly while writing.
• Adding sources to Zotero:
  • Create a new record for a journal article and fill in fields: authors (one per line: last name, first name/initials), title, journal, year, volume, issue, pages, DOI, etc.
  • If multiple authors exist, add them one by one; Zotero will format the author list according to the chosen style.
• Managing author lists and journal titles:
  • You may need to manually enter or adjust author order and names to ensure accuracy.
  • Journal titles should be entered in full (not abbreviated) to aid future discovery, as some journals use abbreviations in databases but full titles are more discoverable.
• Zotero preferences and features:
  • Syncs with a cloud account for access across devices.
  • Supports search within large libraries; allows exporting entries.
  • You can enter the book/article metadata and let Zotero generate properly formatted citations.
• Using Zotero with IEEE in Word:
  • In Word, use the Zotero tab to insert citations; choose IEEE as the style.
  • The bibliography can be inserted or updated automatically.
  • Each citation links to a specific end reference in your bibliography.
• Common workflow tip:
  • Add sources to Zotero as you encounter them; insert citations as you write; generate bibliography at the end.

Page 9: Practical guidelines for citations and assignment workflow

• Concrete steps for the assignment workflow:
  • Find two sources: one general-interest source (newspaper, blog, broadly circulated) and one technical journal article with a research component (study, survey, literature review).
  • Ensure both sources are accessible (e.g., PDFs available) so you can capture citation details.
  • Apply three of five credibility criteria defined in the course slides to assess the sources. The criteria are defined in the Week 3b slides (Week 3, Part B).
  • Write a short critique in a Canvas text box: name the criteria used and summarize what you found in the article.
  • A separate link provides guidance on IEEE citation formatting; if you’re hand-citing, you’ll still need the same fundamental information.
• Alternative to manual entry: Zotero directions in the assignment guide can help you create citations automatically and save time.
• Time management and extensions:
  • The instructor extended the due date for the assignment to accommodate students learning Zotero and citation workflows, and to avoid scheduling conflicts with family weekends.
  • If you’re unsure about how to proceed, use the Ask a Librarian service for help.

Page 10: Assignment logistics, resources, and final tips

• Two-source assignment structure:
  • Source 1: general-interest source about your branch of engineering (e.g., newspaper article or widely circulated blog post).
  • Source 2: a technical journal article (peer-reviewed study, survey, or literature review) relevant to your engineering branch.
  • For each of the two sources, apply three of the five credibility criteria and report on them in a Canvas text box, including the criteria used and the article’s findings.
• IEEE citation resources:
  • A dedicated IEEE reference guide is provided for formatting and examples.
  • If you’re hand-typing citations, you’ll use IEEE style guidelines for both in-text and bibliography entries.
• Zotero workflow recap:
  • Install Zotero and the Word processor plugin (Zotero Connector).
  • Create Zotero entries by entering metadata for your sources, including full author names, title, journal, etc.
  • Insert citations in your document and generate the bibliography; ensure journal titles are spelled in full for clarity.
• Final reminders and tips:
  • If you find a resource via Google Scholar, you’ll often see a link to the PDF on the right; you still need to capture full citation details.
  • Do not rely on a browser URL for long-term access; use permalinks and/or Zotero exports for citation work.
  • If you encounter a broken link or a paywall prompt, report it via the library's “Ask a Librarian” or broken-link report mechanism.
  • The instructor is available to help with research questions and citation tasks; there are no dumb questions.
• Closing notes:
  • The workshop includes extra guidance and links to quick-start guides for Zotero and IEEE formatting.
  • If you struggle with any step, reach out to the librarian or the instructor for assistance; collaboration and asking questions are encouraged.

Page 11: Quick takeaways and practical next steps

• Quick takeaways:
  • Always book study rooms in advance via the library’s Reserve a Space tool.
  • Use Discovery Search to identify a wide range of sources across databases.
  • Use simple keywords and left-side limiters to refine results; adjust date ranges to improve relevance.
  • When saving sources, prefer permanent permalinks over temporary URLs; use email or Zotero to manage citations.
  • IEEE citations require careful management of in-text numbers and corresponding end references; plan early to avoid last-minute stress.
  • Zotero simplifies citation management and can be integrated with Word to automate in-text citations and bibliographies.
• Final practice actions:
  • Navigate to the library website: liv.vt.edu and explore the Reserve a Space and Discovery Search features.
  • Complete the two-source assignment using the criteria provided, and experiment with Zotero to streamline citations.
  • If you have questions, use the Ask a Librarian feature or reach out to the instructor for guidance.