My Library Account
Contact a Librarian
Email Us
refdesk@cscc.edu
Call Us
614-287-2460 Columbus
740-203-8183 Delaware
Visit Us
Columbus Hall Columbus
Moeller Hall Delaware
Reference librarians are committed to assisting you with the following:
Locating appropriate resources
Developing research skills
Providing citation guidance
Assisting with library technology
Columbus Campus: Reference librarians are on duty during all hours the library is open. Reference librarians can be contacted at 614-287-2460 or by email at refdesk@cscc.edu.
Delaware Campus: Reference librarians can be contacted at 740-203-8183 or by email at refdesk@cscc.edu.
Limits of Scope
For librarian William Badke, one of the main frustrations with Google is its limited content. It often doesn't search the most important sources1. Most experts would agree that a single search engine captures no more than 16% of the entire Internet2.
Consequences of Habit
Another tendency of Internet researchers is to use the same search engine for every search3. Applying the information above, it becomes evident that repeatedly relying on a familar search engine severely constricts your awareness of the information available on a topic. This tendency towards the familar goes "hand-in-hand" with not using the advanced features of a particular search engine.
1See https://login.cscc.ohionet.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=a9h&AN=96354060&site=ehost-live
2L. Graham and P. Metaxas, "Of Course it's True; I Saw it on the Internet," Communications of the ACM 46:5, May 2003.
3See https://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2003/5/6838-of-course-its-true-i-saw-it-on-the-internet/fulltext
During your search, you may encounter times when the full text (PDF or HTML) of an article is not available in the database. Follow these steps to see how you may locate an electronic or print version of your article:
Proper spelling is critical when using a library database. A simple spelling error will cause your search terms not to be found.
Here is a list of Common Questions you should ask when analyzing any source for research purposes.
Currency: Information is timely
Can you locate a publication date or posted date? Are there revisions or updates to the information? Is the information current enough for your topic?
Relevance: Information connects to your research needs
How does the information compare to other sources you found? Do I need scholarly communication, facts and figures, or an emotional story? Does the information answer your research question?
Authority: Information comes from a trusted source or expert
Can you determine the author or publisher of the source? Is the author affiliated with a particular institution or organization? Is the author an expert on this topic?
Accuracy: Information is correct, reliable, and factual
Can you identify the original source(s) of information? Is the information supported by evidence? Has the information been peer-reviewed or fact checked?
Purpose: Information has a clear reason or intent
Is there an identifiable bias (political, personal, ideological)? What is the source's agenda (inform, persuade, sell, mislead, provoke)? Is the information factual, opinion, propaganda, or satirical?
*Based on the CRAAP test created by Molly Beestrum, Librarian, while at Dominican University.