I. When to use Books, when to use Journals, and when to use Internet

    A. If a broad overview or introduction to a subject is desired, a book or maybe

         even an  encyclopedia may be the best place to start, rather than turning

         immediately to journals. However, most books will generally not have the

         very latest information on a topic, in which case one must use journals.

    B. Journal articles tend to deal with narrower, more specific aspects of a topic

         and/or may present research findings. Journal articles are a necessary

         adjunct to books in order to obtain the most recent information about a

         topic.

    C. Internet is also an information resource which is quickly growing in

         importance. Information is often very current. However, be careful since

         anyone can post  anything on the Internet. Make sure that whatever

         Internet information you may use is from an authoritative, reputable source.

II. OPAC for Books  (http://library.csudh.edu/)

    A. Books are listed in the OPAC computers and can  be retrieved by author,

            title, and subject.

           1. Try a sample search on  'Geographic Information Systems' as a subject

    B. General Call Number area for GIS  is  G70.2

            1. However, specific applications (e.g. business) of GIS will generally be

                found under call number for the particular subject of the application

                (e.g. HF for GIS business applications)           

    C. Sample Reference Books

            1.  International GIS Dictionary   (Ref G70.212 M33 1995)

            2.  California Cities, Towns, & Counties -- Basic Data Profiles for all

                 Municipalities & Counties, 2000   (Ref HA261 C295 2000)

            3.  SourceBook of ZIP Code Demographics  (Ref HA203 S68 1993)

            4.  Encyclopedia of Associations   (Ref HS17 E5 2001)

III. Some good journals w/coverage of Geographic Information Systems

      A. Cartography and Geographic Information Science

      B. International Journal of Geographical Information Science

 

IV. How to find Journal Articles

        This is basically a two step process:

          A.  Find the journal article citations/references in Journal Article Indexes

          B.  Locate the full text of the articles (print copy, microfilm, online version)

                in the CSUDH Journals List (http://library.csudh.edu/)

V. Journal Article Indexes

       Found mainly on Internet computers, with a few also on CD-ROM computers

     A. The Journal Article Index Databases  are simply computerized indexes of

          journal  articles which allow you to retrieve lists of articles about the subject

          you are researching. i.e. type in the subject and the computer will give you

          a list of articles about the subject.

     B. Keep in mind that numerous Journal Article indexes may give only a

          citation and sometimes an abstract of the article and often may not contain

          the full  text of the article.

              In those cases where the index only gives a citation, it will be necessary

              to undertake an additional separate step in order to find the full text of

              the article. (See Section VI below).

     C. Journal Article Indexes useful for GIS   (http://library.csudh.edu/electdb.php)     

           1. Academic Search Premier (full-text  and  citations only)

                  General purpose index which covers about 3200 English language journals

           2. ABI Inform (mostly full-text)

                  Since this is a business journals index, use this to look for

                  applications of GIS to business

           3. Elsevier Science Direct (full-text)

                   Primarily a science index covering the 1180 journals published by

                   this publisher

           4. Wiley Interscience Journals (full-text)

                   Primarily a science index covering the 390 journals published by this

                   publisher

           5.  Dow Jones  -- Full Text

                   Good for obtaining information about a company or particular industry

VI. How to find journal articles when full text was not included with

      citations found in Journal Article Indexes

      A.  Look in the CSUDH Journals List (http://library.csudh.edu/)  

      B.  Be sure to look up the title of the journal,  NOT the title of the article.

               1. In CSUDH  Journals List look up the title of the journal and

                    then examine the holdings information carefully to determine where

                    the specific  volume you are looking for can be found

               2.  Be sure to distinguish whether the particular volume of the journal

                    you are looking for is on the current shelves, on microfilm,  in the

                    book stacks, or is available electronically online.

VII. Government Publications

       Use  MOCAT (Catalog of U.S. Government Publications)

           (http://library.csudh.edu/ElectDB.php)

VIII. Internet

      A . Web Sites of of individual municipalities often contain valuable data of

           geographic interest.

           1. Redondo Beach   (http://www.redondo.org/)                               

           2. Torrance  (http://www.ci.torrance.ca.us/)

      B. Census Data (http://library.csudh.edu/cyberlib/stats.htm)

      C. Annual Reports  (http://library.csudh.edu/cyberlib/business.htm)

IX. Interlibrary Loan

      Can use Inter-Library Loan to obtain books and articles in journals not owned

      by  CSUDH.

X. Citing your Sources

      See Library Web Page at   http://library.csudh.edu/citesrc.htm

J. Broude  9/17/01