Tutorials and Digital Learning Objects

Tutorial Menu - scroll down for descriptions

• Finding a Specific Book in SCOUT: Approximately 3 minutes
• Anatomy of a SCOUT Record: Approximately 3 minutes
• Keyword Searching in the Library Catalog: Approximately 3 minutes
• Boolean Operators - Introduction: Approximately 4 minutes
• Boolean Operators - Step by Step: Approximately 5 minutes
• SCOUT Filters: Approximately 5 minutes
• Resource Sharing - Books - Approximately 5 minutes
• Resource Sharing - Articles: Approximately 5 minutes
• Using a Call Number to Find a Book in the Stacks: Approximately 4 minutes
• Where Are the Books? Locations of USMA's Physical Resources: Approximately 4 minutes
• Databases: Approximately 3 minutes
• Google Scholar Basics: Approximately 4 minutes
• Janes, DTIC, FBIS: Approximately 5 minutes
• Finding and Saving Resources in SCOUT: Approximately 3 minutes
• How to Search for Library Resources in SCOUT: Approximately 10 minutes

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Finding a Specific Book in SCOUT: Approximately 3 minutes

• Enter the book's title into the SCOUT search bar
• Examine your results to see if USMA library owns the book and whether or not it is on the shelf and available for checkout

Anatomy of a SCOUT Record: Approximately 3 minutes

• Locate information in a SCOUT record including:
  • The title and author of the resource
  • The permalink of the resource
  • The citation generator

Keyword Searching in the Library Catalog: Approximately 3 minutes

• Recognize the difference between natural language and keyword searching
• Select keywords out of research questions for keyword searching
• Determine why your search may not give you the results you expect

Boolean Operators: Approximately 5 minutes

• Explain what a Boolean operator is
• Identify the various types of Boolean operators
• Know which Boolean operators broaden your search results and which Boolean operators narrow your search results

SCOUT Filters: Approximately 5 minutes

• Locate the area on the USMA Library website where you can find various SCOUT filters
• Use filters to narrow your search results.
• Determine which filter to use to best narrow your results

Resource Sharing - Books - Approximately 5 minutes

• Identify the location on a SCOUT record that gives you information about whether or not USMA Library has the book you want.
• Submit local, regional, and national requests for books.
• Check your account to see if the request was made properly.

Resource Sharing - Articles: Approximately 5 minutes

• Determine if SCOUT has a specific article you are looking for
• If the article is not available in SCOUT, sign in to WorldCat using Azure
• Fill out and submit an article request
• Check to see if your request was submitted properly

Using a Call Number to Find a Book in the Stacks: Approximately 4 minutes

• Explain what and where the library stacks are
• Recognize the different parts of a Library of Congress Call Number
• Use library signage to find a general area where a book is located
• Use book spines to find a specific book
• Know when to ask for help if you can't find the book you are looking for

Where Are the Books? Locations of USMA's Physical Resources: Approximately 4 minutes

• While the majority of books are kept at the USMA Library in Jefferson Hall, there are a few other places which have books and other items around campus
• In this tutorial you will learn where those places are and how to use SCOUT to determine which location has what you are looking for

Databases: Approximately 3 minutes

• Learn how a database is different from the Internet

• Find and select Subject Specific databases from the USMA Library

Google Scholar Basics: Approximately 4 minutes

• Learn the strengths and weaknesses of Google Scholar as a resource for scholarly information

Janes, DTIC, FBIS: Approximately 5 minutes

• Learn to do a basic search in the following databases: JANES, DTIC and FBIS

Boolean Operators: Approximately 4 minutes

• Use Boolean Operators to narrow or broaden search results in SCOUT

Finding and Saving Resources in SCOUT: Approximately 3 minutes

• Get to the advanced search library page
• Sign into your library account
• Do a keyword search
• Pin or save a search or resource
• Find your saved search or article in your favorites

How to Search for Library Resources in SCOUT: Approximately 10 minutes

• Navigate to the library's online catalog to locate physical and electronic resources.

• Search SCOUT for library resources.

• Includes: Finding and Saving Resources in SCOUT, SCOUT Filters, Finding a Specific Book in SCOUT