Library Student Newsletter: Winter 2019

Welcome From the Director

Ask a Librarian Service

Library Database Search Skills

Finding Walden Research

Meet a Librarian

Citation Management

Doctoral Student Appointments

Upcoming Library Labs & Webinars

Library Lab Suggestions

For fun ...

Student Feedback Corner

Looking back at 2018, I’m proud of what the library team accomplished last year. Some noteworthy achievements include:

• Added nine new databases to the library collections
• Hosted the first ever library open house week, with hundreds of visitors and great feedback from attendees
• Held 33% more doctoral capstone appointments and 24% more chat sessions than in 2017
• Over 278,000 views of library Quick Answers, 25% more than last year

In 2019, we’re going to keep looking at ways to innovate our services and expand our reach to get you the library resources you need when you need them.

Happy new year from all of us at the Library!

Michelle Hajder Director, Walden University Library

We’ve just updated our Database Search Skills Guide, and it’s full of information that will help you find what you need to ace your coursework. 

Let the library guide you on how to Decide on a Topic that will work for your research project. A topic that’s not too big, not too small, but just right. Our guide will also help you Identify Relevant Databases so that you can find quality articles right away without having to wade through unrelated results.

Did you know that using Keywords, not whole sentences, is the way to go when searching a library database? The guide can help you determine which words will work best and, just as important, how to Connect Keywords so that you’re getting what you need.

There is also information on how to Find Subject Terms, basic and advanced help on using Search Limiters, Advanced Search Tips and how to Save and Share what you find. These search techniques will help you find research articles quickly and efficiently.

Take some time to explore and experiment with different searches. Spending a little time up front will save you lots of time down the road as you look for research to support your assignments and discussion posts throughout your program.

And remember, if you have any questions, you can always Ask A Librarian!

Get to know the Walden Library Librarians. A new Librarian will be featured in every newsletter!

Meet Lisa Presley!

1. What is your job at the library?
   I am a liaison librarian. I teach information literacy concepts and work with students to improve their personal research skills. I help students with every stage of the research process so that their approach is both streamlined and comprehensive. Some of the most common tasks I assist students with are: getting acclimated to the virtual library’s various resources; developing effective search strategies for openly available resources, as well as proprietary sources; using a variety of specialized features in subject specific databases; locating and accessing hard-to-find resources; and organizing citations in programs such as Zotero or Mendeley.
2. What do you like the most about working at the Walden Library?
   I thoroughly enjoy helping students work towards their educational goals. The great thing about working for Walden, is that it affords me the unique opportunity to work with students and faculty from all over the world.
3. What book or series are you reading now?
   I am currently reading Upstream by Mary Oliver, which is a collection of essays about the author’s connection to literature and nature. I really appreciate intellectual and creative works that explore the interdependent relationship between human beings and the natural environment. In addition to literature on the topic, I also enjoy reading scholarship in the field of Ecopsychology.
4. What do you like to do in your free time?
   I live in Michigan and find ways to enjoy the outdoors during each of the seasons. I love the beach and the woods, and when I can’t make it to either one, I have two energetic dogs that I enjoy taking for walks.
5. Anything else we should know about you?
   I’m new to Walden and really excited to be here!

If you are a doctoral student who is struggling with research, information literacy, or any other library-related skill,you can make an appointment with a librarian to get assistance. Select Doctoral Research Appointment on our Ask a Librarian page to make an appointment with a librarian in your subject area.

Is there a library topic that has you confused? Or an assignment that requires intense and in-depth research? Perhaps there's a resource that is confusing to navigate? Please provide us with some suggestions for topics you'd like to see us cover.

We've probably all had an overdue library book but these books were extremely overdue!

11 Ridiculously Overdue Library Books (That Were Finally Returned)

Did you submit one of the more than 16,000 questions received in 2018 through the Library’s Ask a Librarian service? If not, now’s the time! Let the Library help you with your research, point you to a specific database or article, and more. The Ask a Librarian service offers several different ways for you to contact us with your Library question:

• E-mail: The more information we have about your research needs, the better we can help you. Filling out the e-mail web form is the best way for us to procure this information from you and provide general research help.
• Chat: We typically offer chat hours every day of the week. Here you can ask quick questions such as how to navigate the library website, find a specific article, or get help with a course reading.
• Phone: Call us toll free and leave a voicemail with your question. We will respond to you via e-mail with instructional and research guidance.
• Doctoral Research Appointment: Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a librarian to brainstorm effective research strategies for your dissertation or doctoral study literature review. 

So come check out Ask a Librarian and choose the service that is best for your research needs!

Did you know that you can discover Walden University publications using the Library's Thoreau search tool? Thoreau combines most of the Library's subscribed and open access content into one convenient search experience. You can use Thoreau to filter your results down to Walden journal articles, dissertations, and more to view research the University has published on your topic.

In Thoreau, use the filters located on the advanced search page or the side-bar of the search results page. Thoreau’s strong search algorithm make it a great place to locate relevant Walden research.

Of course, you can always go to ScholarWorks for direct access to the University's intellectual output.

Looking for a way to organize all the articles that you collect from your courses and research? Give citation management software a try. This is software that you can download onto your computer and integrate with an online version. You can save article citations and full text with the software, and then create your own filing system with folders for each course, or topic, or whatever theme you choose. There are a lot of different kinds of software to try; some are free, some need to be purchased. The Library’s Citation Management Software guide will get you started with advice about choosing software and making it work for you.

Please feel free to share these Library labs with your classmates!

Please provide us with any suggestions about the newsletter or any other ideas you may have!