Expectations for student learning:

1. Comfort with the language and vocabulary of the online world
2. Familiarity with the Library Homepage at libwww.cabrillo.edu
3. Familiarity with a wide range of Full Text Resources
4. Familiarity with Web searching tools.

The big picture:

Every need for information starts with some thoughts and ideas in your head. These thoughts and ideas have to be translated into a search.

A good search is based on the careful selection of the right words to describe what your topic is about.

Reading, making choices, and selecting a file or site to view are regular activities in the online world.

Interacting with the online world takes place whenever you fill out a dialog box with your own words and then examine the results of your search.

Remember, the online sources are not "smart." You have to spell the words correctly and choose a variety of words to get useful information back from these tools.

How to find what you want:

1. From the library homepage, choose one of these resources: the Catalog, Fulltext articles, or Search the Internet
2. Write out the words to describe what you are looking for.
3. Study the guide to that resource (linked in the left frame of this page)
4. Try your search, look at a few of the results? Are they what you wanted? Redo your search with more or different words.
5. Talk to a librarian for help and ideas about how to get better results.

All of the Full Text resources and eBooks can be used from Delta School computers. You may also use Full Text articles and eBooks from a home computer IF you have a valid Cabrillo College Library Card. Come to the library to apply for a card. Identify yourself with a photo ID and the information that YOU are a Delta student.

Return to the Delta School library Web page  || Revised July, 2008  || Johanna Bowen