Using iCONN Databases

1. What is a database? (Look it up on www.webster.com.)

 Read this September 2005 press release from iCONN, the Connecticut Digital Library, and answer the following questions:

2. What is the purpose of iCONN.org?
3. How much money does the state of Connecticut pay every year for the databases?
4. How much would it cost if schools, libraries and colleges had to pay for the databases individually?
5. What kinds of sources do you find on iCONN? (For example; is the information from radio show transcripts, books, magazines?)
6. Is this information available for free on the internet?

Now go to iCONN Times issue, January 2006. Read the article at the top of page 2 Beloved by Users… Unknown by Many. Then answer the following questions.

7. A recent survey conducted by the University of Connecticut showed that most Connecticut residents do not know about iCONN. Only _________% of the general public and __________% of library users use the iCONN databases.
8. What percentage of those who use the databases are happy with them and recommend them?
9. What are some of the reasons that people use iCONN?

Go to Texas Tech University’s Glossary of Library Terms to answer questions 10-16 http://library.ttu.edu/ul/instruction/glossary.php

10.  Define periodical
11.  Define serial
12. Define full-text article
13. Define abstract
14. When would you read an abstract instead of a full-text article?
15. When would you read a full text article instead of an abstract?
16. Define peer-reviewed journal.

Go to the list of iCONN’s peer-reviewed journals.

17. Peer-reviewed journals are also known as scholarly journals and refereed journals. How many different scholarly journals does iCONN carry?

Go to the list of iCONN’s general (non-scholarly) periodicals

18. How many non-scholarly or general periodicals does iCONN carry?

Based on what you’ve already learned:

19. Which is usually more authoritative: peer-reviewed journals or magazines? Why?
20.  To access iConn from home the URL is iconn.org. What kind of number will you need to type in, in order to access iCONN from home? 
21. Click on iConn from the SSDS library home page. Type in Martha Washington. Make sure the box under the search window is checked, so you only get full-text resources. Press search.   You will see various databases. Compare information you find about Martha Washington from these databases.