Prof. Dr. E.

Okobie
ILS 504
Southern Connecticut State University
Ahmed Ramadan
May 2005

Answers to Reference Questions Part II:

1. The rising cost of journals in almost all disciplines continues to affect the
budgets of all types of libraries. Are there recent articles that outline effective
strategies for coping with this issue? If your client wants to read only two, which
ones would you recommend? Provide bibliographic data.

Using the Buley Library database I searched “Library literature (FS)”. Providing key
words “journals” and “cost” I got more than 201 articles. The most relevant article
written by John Riley. He says that:” presently the C-SMART websites has discounted
purchasing opportunities for periodical indexes and on-line periodicals databases such as
SIRS, EBSCO …”. The second, by Scott F. Peterson, is most relevant to the topic.

Riley, John, “ Cost-effective learning resources for the classroom and school library”,
CSLA Journal, v.24, no.1 (Fall 2000), p. 27.

Peterson, Scott F., “Implementing cost effective electronic course reserves in an

academic library at the University of Missouri-Rolla”, Journal of Interlibrary Loan,
Document Delivery & Information Supply, Volume 10, no.2 (1999), ISSN: 1072-303X, p.
45-60.

2. Faculty and students in the Graduate Schools of Library and Information

Science continually request articles from the journals Choice, RQ and College
Research Libraries. To what database should your library consider subscribing
in order to provide your users the materials they request.

Under Journal locator in Buley Website I navigated some web sites on line like
URLICH’S which provided me with full citation of these periodicals, ISSN, publishing
body, price, description and so forth. But I decided to start my search by going to the
stacks of Periodicals Room where I found the above mentioned periodicals: “College &
Research Libraries”, “Choice” and “Reference &User Services Quarterly” (RQ) are
published by American Library Association. Consequently ALA database should be
considered by my library to provide users the requested materials.
[Link]/ala/acrl

3. My friend’s son has Attention Deficit Disorder ADD). She needs to find out more
about the disorder and the latest drugs for treating the disorder. Which databases
would you consult to provide her with the information that she needs?
This is a type of questions where we have to search Journal locator in Buley Library.
Since this is a psychological disease I consulted PsycInfo and through EBSCO/iConn I
was provided with several bibliographic citations of journals containing articles about
Attention Deficit Disorder. Here are the citations of the most recent article written in this
topic.

Ratner, Sharon; Laor, Nathaniel; Bronstein, Yifat, “Six-week Open-Label Reboxetine in

children and adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder”, Journal of the
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology, Volume 44(5), May 2005, p.
428-433 [Peer Reviewed Journal]

McHoul, Alec, Rapley, Mark, “A case of attention-deficit/hyperactivity diagnosis …”,

Discourse&Society, Volume 16(3), May 2005, p.419-449.

Providing such articles and database (EBSCO/iConn) to the patient’s mother she will be
able to furnish the physician with the recent information about the disease and for
possible treatment.

4. I would like to obtain a copy of Dr. Mary E. Brown’s Dissertation. Where will
you look for this information? Provide the title of her Dissertation and the year it
was completed.

This is a very tricky bibliographic question; for, it includes the author’s name but there
are many under this name. We lack the title of the dissertation. When I searched under
Dissertation Abstract Online (FS) There were no results. Searching the CONSULS
catalogue I found a similar name but again failed to find the title of the dissertation. I
decided to go to the SCSU Faculty/Staff directory and realized that Mary E. Brown is an
Associate Professor. Through her web site under Brown@[Link] I got the
Curriculum Vita of Dr. Brown. Under Dissertation Research I found her dissertation
entitled: ”Children’s naming of subject categories : developmental differences in the
invariant properties of category labeling”. Having cited the title I consulted Dissertation
Abstract Online providing key words: Children’s, Naming, categories I got 12
bibliographic records including Dr. Brown’s:

Brown, Mary Esther, “Children’s naming of subject categories : developmental

differences in the invariant properties of category labeling”, Drexel University, 1994.

This means that the dissertation has been completed in 1994.

5. What is the estimated number of mourners at Pope John Paul II’s funeral.
Where will you look for this information.

This type of questions falls under “Current events”. I decided to go to “The New York
Times” and found a lengthy article written by Ian Fisher, Jason Horowitz and Elisabetta
Povoledo, late edition of New York Times on April 7, 2005. The article describes the
funeral in details and informed that more than one million mourners attended the funeral.
In addition, President Bush, Laura Bush, former Presidnet George H.W. Bush, former
president William Clinton, The Secretary of State, and many State Officials from all over
the world.

“One million wait to view the Pope as line is cut off”, The New York Times, New York,
N.Y., April 7, 2005, p.A1

6. What is the difference between Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature and

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). Where would you go to look for this
information?
This is a bibliographic question and since we need to evaluate two bibliographies I
consulted “Guide to reference books”. “Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature” indexes
U.S. periodicals of broad, general, and popular character and provides a well balanced
selection of U.S. popular, non-technical magazines representing all the important
scientific and humanistic subject field. It also provides full dictionary catalog of all
articles, i.e. their entry under Author, Subject and title. It is “considered as the unofficial
continuation of the ALA index … to general literature”.

While PAIS is a subject guide to current periodical articles, books, government

publications, pamphlets and reports. It is useful to researchers in economics, political
science, public administration, and law. Covers publications in many languages: English,
French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

7. Who was the first Female to serve in the U.S. Congress? Who did she represent?
Using Buley Library online search engine I searched “InfoPlease” and got a list of
famous Firsts by American women. The List mentions the First women in various fields.
I found Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973) as the first woman who has served in the U.S.
Congress. This has been confirmed by another source, namely, “USgovinfo at its site:
[Link]

8. Using the internet, locate information o why the internet is not a substitute for a
library.

I searched the online Buley library Journal Locator and navigated through many articles
and found no relevant article to this topic. I searched Google providing key words and I
found a good comparison of the Library vs. Internet. entitled: ”The internet vs. the TWU
[Trinity Western University] Library.

Source: [Link]/library/[Link]
9. Using online databases locate information on Knowledge Management
published in the last three years, provide full text articles where possible. Which
databases will provide relevant articles?

Using Buley Web site I searched Journal locator I searched under EBSCO (Academic
search Premier) and Found “Knowledge Management Review”. Yet from the title history
this magazine is currently known as KM Review (2002-present) Full text articles are
available by clicking on KM Review (03/01/1998 to present). More than 600 article are
available during the period 1998 to present.

Citation of the publication:

Knowledge Management Review (London : Melcrum Publishing).

The Database like First Search: Article First provides relevant articles:
[Link]/WebZ/FSQUERY?format

Also Wilson Select Plus provides relevant articles

Citation of the publication:

Knowledge Management Review (London : Melcrum Publishing).

10. Are there any government bibliographies on the 9/11 attacks?

This is a bibliographic question which requires immediately to go and search the Subject
guide to books in print where I have been furnished with hundreds of books and articles.
Also I consulted ODL On line (Oklahoma Department of Libraries under
[Link]/usinfo/index where Oklahoma Department of Libraries began
receiving government publications in 1893. “Today the ODL’s U.S. Government
Information Division receives publications from all three branches of the government
executive, legislative and Judicial. If we click on Federal Government Agency List we
will get U.S. Government Online Bookstore on line. We are access to Final Report of the
National Commission on Terrorist attacks upon the United States, Official government
edition.
When we click on Government document and provide key word September 11 and
terrorism we get 1233 results ranging between books, Public laws, acts, Congress
Sessions documents … etc. All available for sale with a GPO Publication details
Source: [Link]/dynamic/actions/PublicationSearch
11. What is the latest information about American casualties and fatalities in Iraq?

This is a current event question. The good site to search was CNN. Under [Link] I
found the most recent article entitled “War in Iraq: Forces: U.S. and Coalition/
Casualties”. The report enumerates the total casualties among U.S. and Coalition, as of
May 16, 2005 there are “1622 Americans …The list below is the names of the soldiers,
Marines, airmen, sailors and Cost Guardsmen … at least 12,350 U.S. troops have been
wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.”
Source: [Link]/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties

12. Locate information on recent volcanic activities around the world.

I directly searched under Hurricanes and Tornado in infoplease which revealed to me a

good article:

“September 2004 disaster” I quote this paragraph: “Sept. 5–8, east and
west coast, Fla.: Hurricane Frances, downgraded from a Category 4 to a
Category 2 storm, made landfall on the Atlantic coast of Florida, near Stuart, on
Sept. 5, moved across the state dropping up to 13 inches of rain. Frances made
a second Florida landfall, as a tropical storm, at St. Marks on the Panhandle on
Sept. 8. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated and damages estimated at
$9 billion. The storm killed at least 38 people.”

Source: [Link]/ipa/[Link]

13. Who is the Archbishop of Canterbury? Provide a short biographical

information about him.

I tried Google and found a The Archbishop web site which provided me with a short
biographical information on Archbishop of Canterbury. Having known his full name I
consulted Who’s Who and found a see reference to “Canterbury, Archbishop of.” Under
this entry I found a synopsis of his biography.
Name: Most Rev. and Rt Hon. Rowan Douglas Williams, b. 14 June 1950; son of
Aneurin Williams and Nancy Delphine Williams. Rev. Rowan got his Bachelor degree
from Cambridge in 1971, MA1975, University lecturer in Divinity, 1980-86, Fellow and
Dean of Clare Coll. 1984-1986, Bishop of Monmouth 1992-2002, archbishop of Wales,
2000-2002 …”
Source: [Link]

“Who’s Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary” (New York : A&C Black, 2003).

14. Who is the next opponent for the Red Sox?

Under the Boston Red Sox site I found information about May 2005 Red Sox Schedule:
May 16 Red sox will play against Seattle Mariners at 4:05 PM, On May 17 against
Athletics Oakland in Oakland at 10:05 PM

[Link]

15. What is the final death toll from the Tornado disasters in Florida last year?

I directly searched under Hurricanes and Tornado in infoplease which revealed to me a

good article:

“September 2004 disaster” I quote this paragraph: “Sept. 5–8, east and
west coast, Fla.: Hurricane Frances, downgraded from a Category 4 to a
Category 2 storm, made landfall on the Atlantic coast of Florida, near
Stuart, on Sept. 5, moved across the state dropping up to 13 inches of rain.
Frances made a second Florida landfall, as a tropical storm, at St. Marks
on the Panhandle on Sept. 8. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated
and damages estimated at $9 billion. The storm killed at least 38 people.”

Source: [Link]/ipa/[Link]

16. Locate a tutorial on library classification scheme

There are various web sites about a tutorial on library classification scheme such as that
of Seattle Pacific University, another under [Link] which provides us with
“Understanding call numbers”. The most informative web site is Library of Congress in
Washington. Under [Link]/cpso/classwebtutorial we find a thorough
information about classification.

17. I am looking for a text book for my Adult Service course. I need to teach a
segment on Non Fiction Reader’s Advisory. Can you find me a possible text and a
review of the title if possible?

I searched CONSULS database under subject heading “Adult services” I found a book
entitled: “The library as a literacy classroom : a program for teaching.
Citation:
Weibel, Marguerite Crowly, “The library as literacy classroom : a program for
teaching” ; forward by Paul Simon, (Chicago, American Library association, 1992.

Searching Books in Print on line for Nonfiction reader’s advisory I found the title with an
annotation and review by Robert Burgin. The text is a good candidate for teaching.
Burgin, Robert, “Nonfiction reader’s advisory” (Libraries Unlimited), 2004.

18. I heard that Nathaniel Hawthorne changed his name. What was the change?
Why did he make the change?

Searching the American National Bibliography under the letter “H” there is a lengthy
article about the author. Yet there is no single word about the change in his name. I
searched Google and found an article in a web site: http:// [Link]/[Link]
saying that “Nathaniel Hawthorne changed the spelling of his name – adding a ‘w’ so as
not to be associated with his relative, Judge Hathorne…” Another article entitled
Hathorne, Nathaniel (1804-1864) says: ”Already interested in becoming a writer …,
added “w” to his name, met Henry Wadsworth…”

Searching another web site in Google:” [Link]” an article entitled:

“The “W” in Hawthorne name” Edward C. Sampson says that “ Every student of
Hawthorne knows that it was Nathaniel Hawthorne who added the "w" to the family
name … the Hathornes who came to America continued this never spelling, though there
is some indication that the pronunciation remained the same as if.-the "w" were present
…Yet it may have been before this time that Hawthorne thought about changing the
spelling of his name. If one can trust the accuracy of Julian Hawthorne, Hawthorne had
used the "w" as early as 1822 or so. In a cryptic and undated note that Julian Hawthorne
says "nay have been written about Hawthorne's eighteenth yes," the signature is "Nath.
Hawthorne." 4 But this may be inaccurate. Julian H Hawthorne is definitely wrong in his
reproduction of a letter from Nathaniel H Hawthor to his sister Louisa, dated August 11,
1824. The letter, now the New York Public Library, is signed "Hathorne," though Julian
Hawthorne has recorded it as "H Hawthorne." 5 Certainly H Hawthorne was using the
"w" in 1827, when be signed his copy of The Beauties of the Spectator with "Nath:
Hawthorne 1827."6 Perhaps the best one can say as to when Hawthorne added the "w" is
Randall Stewart`s comment that it was "not long after his graduation from college."

19. Have any poems been written about phantom? If so, I’d like the title of the
poem, the author, and a published collection of poems in which I can read it.

This is the type of questions which requires an index to poetry. From our evaluation of
Information sources “The Columbia Granger’s Index to Poetry I Anthologies” is the best
reference book to find this information. The first step is to make a subject search. Under
“Phantom” there are two poems. The two titles have been found when searching under
title using the index First line/Last line:

Mary Jo Bang, “Louise in love,” in The New American Poets : a bread loaf anthology,
Michael Collier, ed. (University of New England, 2000).
Robert Graves, “The sea horse,” in The Faber Book of Modern Verse, Michael Roberts,
ed., 4th ed. Edited by Peter Porter (Faber & Faber, 1982).

In Books In Print Online I found a published collection of poems:

Gifford, Barry, “Beautiful phantoms : selected poems, 1968-1980”, (Tombouctou Books,

1981).

20. I am a mystery fan and would like to read an obituary for Agatha Christie.
When did she die, and where can I find her obituary? Was there anything written
about her funeral?

As The Times Obituary Index ceased publication in 1977, I decided to search the New
York Times web site where I searched under “Articles 1851-1995”. The result was an
article written by Max Lowenthal in 1976 under title:

Agatha Christie, creator of Poirot, dies.

Citation:

Lowenthal, Max. “Agatha Christie, creator of Poirot, dies; Agatha Christie dies at 85;
wrote mysteries 50 years”. New York, N.Y. : New York Times, Jan. 13, 1976. p. 70. 2 p.

Regarding any publications written about her funeral, this may implicitly mean her book
“After the Funeral”. A book was written by Edwin Murphey about Agatha’s book. I
searched under Amazon. Com and the result was:

Murphy, Edwin, “After the Funeral : the posthumous adventures of famous corpses.
United States : Carol Publishing Group, 1995.

21. I need to contact the Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Foods PLC. Can you
tell me the name of the CEO as well as the company’s address and phone number?
Before I speak to his person, it would be helpful if I also knew the type of business,
sales volume and number of employees.

Using Buley On line Search I searched Proquest/iConn, D&N small business solution,
and under Richmond Food. PLC I got information that this company has its own web
site. I concluded that:

The CEO: James S. Lambert

Type of Business: The manufacture and sale of ice cream, Lollipops and other frozen
confectionary

Address: the company has 5 locations in Leeds Cross gates, Budge, Wigan, Leeming and
Devon.

Leeds Crossgates:

Richmond Ice Cream LTD.

Richmond House

Leeming Bar Industrial Estate

Northallerton, NorthYorkshire,

DL7 9UL

Tel.: 01677 423 397 Fax: 01677 425 140

Crossgates:

Richmond Ice Cream LTD

Manston Lane

Leeds, LS15 8SX

Tel.: 01677 423 397

Fx: 01677 425 140

Sales Volume: $258.4 million

Employees: 928

Source:

[Link]