Course: Ag 120: Issues in Agriculture
Fall 2007 – Dr. Danny Terry

Librarian: John Stierman – jp-stierman@wiu.edu
Leslie F. Malpass Library, Office 219
Phone: 298-2756

Office Hours: Tuesday, 4-5; Wednesday, 6-7; Thursday, 2-4 Off-Campus Access Library Internet Resources Most of the libraries' databases are proprietary (owned by third parties). As long as you are on campus, the database providers assume that you are a WIU student. If you are off-campus, the providers require proof of enrolment. If you want to access library databases off-campus, be prepared with your student id # or your ecom username and password. Call the reference desk at 309-298-2700 or 800-

Key Resources

Bibliographic Databases in Biology or Agriculture

Biological and Agricultural Index, 1983- .
Biological & Agricultural Index is a bibliographic database that indexes English-language periodicals published in the United States and elsewhere. The database includes abstracts and full text coverage for selected journals. Periodical coverage includes a wide range of scientific journals, from popular to professional, that pertain to biology and agriculture. About 45 percent of the focus is on agriculture.
Agricola, 1970- .
Agricola describes materials acquired by the National Agriculture Library and cooperating institutions. Includes records of books, serials, audiovisual and other materials. If the University Libraries owns a particular item, the bibliographic records will indicate holdings.

Biological Abstracts, 1998- .
Biological Abstracts is the premiere index in the academic/scholarly world of biology. Undergraduates may consider searching Biological and Agricultural Index before tackling this comprehensive index.

Multidisciplinary Periodical Databases

Academic Search Premier, 1985- .
Academic Search Premier provides full text for more than 2,050 publications, including more than 1,500 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to the full text, indexing and abstracts are provided for all 3,476 journals in the collection. This database offers information in nearly every area of academic study.
General Science Index, 1985- .
General Science Index contains citations to articles from over 265 leading journals and magazines from the United States and Great Britain including popular science magazines and professional journals. Topics covered include: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Health & Medicine, Zoology, etc.

Expanded Academic ASAP by InfoTrac, 1980- .
InfoTrac is one of the WIU Libraries’ most popular multidisciplinary database. Easy to use and a majority of the citations include full text.

Selected Full-Text Periodicals

WIU Libraries subscribes to several full-text periodicals that are very useful for finding a topic and quickly gaining background knowledge.

CQ Researcher, 1921- .
CQ Researcher is a weekly publication of Congressional Quarterly, a publisher who offers a wide variety of reference tools in politics and government. Each weekly issue is on a single issue, such as obesity or nuclear power. The topics are chosen for their timeliness. The reports are useful for finding a topic or learning the background of a selected topic.

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
Opposing Viewpoints includes articles, essays, and reports on a variety of social issues, such as abortion, gun control, and immigration.

Determining Full-Text Availability

PHL: Determining Periodical Access
The Periodicals Holdings List (PHL) is a listing of both the print/microform periodicals available on the shelves of the Western Illinois University Libraries, and the full-text e-titles available via databases purchased by the Libraries. This resource currently indexes over 20,000 periodical titles.

Interlibrary Loan Service

Citing Your Sources: Hard Copy, Internet and RefWorks

To my knowledge, the Agriculture Department does not have a recommended style. Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual features three popular formats: MLA, APA, and Chicago. Of the three listed, APA is the style I recommend for science research papers. For special instructions on how to cite Internet sources, see Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual, Fourth Edition, pages 174-175. You can, of course, always consult the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition (APA Manual). We have APA Manuals at the Reference Desk. For Internet sources, see pages 268-281. The Reference Staff have created handouts on two of three popular styles, Chicago is currently under revision and is not available.

To manage your citations, you might consider learning how to use RefWorks. It is citation management software that is compatible with most of the University Libraries's databases. Ask me how to set up a personal account and begin filling folders with citations. You will find RefWorks on the WIU Libraries list of databases.

Human Resources -- Reference Service & Office Hours

If you need more help with the library tools demonstrated today, visit the Malpass Library’s reference desk, located on the main (second) floor of the library. The desk is open Mon-Thurs. 9-9, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 1-5, and Sun 1-5, 6-9. John Stierman's office hours are T- 9-10, W-8-10 and TH-8-9. I am at the reference desk at the following times:  Tuesday, 6-9, Wednesday, 10-1, Thursday, 3-6. Stop by for help.