Features of the MLA Bibliography on the EBSCO platform in the CSUEB library
NOTE: Our web page will change in 2008, so you will have to adjust to the new options.
go to the home page: http://library.csueastbay.edu
click on A-Z databases, then on "m"
click on MLA bibliography.
Note that there is a "description" associated with the bibliography.
The description outlines the subjects covered, the type of results you'll get (in this case, citations primarily), the content included, and the dates of coverage.
You can access this from on campus or off. If you access the database from off-campus, you will be required to authenticate.
The EBSCO Host Platform and the MLAIB
NOTE: Databases can be delivered on a variety of platforms and will look different from platform to platform.
First and foremost, in the upper right hand corner of the platform is a "help" feature. If you click on that, you will not only get explanations, but links to EBSCO tutorials. These materials cover research databases in general.
1. The library has chosen to default to the "advanced search" screen; however, there is a basic screen. At the graduate level, the advanced screen is probably the one you want to use. In fact, I just leave the default setting for all levels of students as they can easily do a basic search from this screen as well.
2. On the left of the search boxes are choices of Boolean operators. Note that if you put a term such a "non-native English speaker" into the first search box, you are requiring the system to give you results where the words must be next to each other. If you put each term in separate boxes, you are requiring the system to give you results where those three words are present, but not necessarily adjacent. This changes your results.
3. On the right of the search boxes are choices of fields. Examples include authors, titles, subjects, and keywords, but there are many others. The two-digit code to the left of each field is an international standard code for that field.
4. Under the search boxes, is the phrase "in MLA international bibliography." If you click on that box, you will see that you have many other options and can switch from database to database. When you do that, in most cases and situations, your search will re-populate in the search boxes. If not, you will have to re-type your search.
5. It is also possible to select multiple databases from the "in" box. For example, to work with a subject with educational, psychological, and linguistic implications, you can search in ERIC, PsycInfo, and MLAIB at the same time by checking the relevant boxes. There are pluses and minuses to this choice, which are discussed below. Alternately, you can click on the "choose databases" tab above the search boxes and click on the databases you wish to include in your search. If you click on the tab, you will find more features, e.g., a complete title list of what's included in SOME databases (not MLAIB at this point, but shortly) and more information, which is generally the scope of inclusion. Be aware, however, that some of the additional help reverts back to the general database information rather than being specific to a particular database.
6. Note the "Limit your results" options. There are many and they are self-explanatory; however, the features used most often are the top choices. If you decide to use multiple databases, the choices will be only those choices that are in common to both databases, so you lose functionality when you combine databases. It's a good idea to check the "limit" features on each database separately before you combine them so that you know what you are choosing. Some searches call for separate searches in each databases; some work well with a combination. It depends on the search.
7. Note the "expand your search to" feature. This offers more self-explanatory features, including controlling a Boolean choice.
8. The "visual search" displays search results as a picture in circles, squares, etc. Some of you may find it useful; others less so. Shortly, EBSCO will change this feature on its EBSCOHost platform.
9. There is a "folder" in which you can store results. If using a public terminal, however, be sure you email things to yourself so that you won't lose them.
10. The "preferences" option allows you to choose display options - how many results per screen, whether brief or full, etc.
11. You can explore the terms on the green bar (these, too, change from database to database).
- Keyword - takes you back to the default advanced search screen
- Thesaurus - this allows you to put in subject terms. These are not the same as keyword; however, with "second language acquisition," the two coincide
- MLA Directory of Periodicals - a list of journals indexed in the bibliography
- Names as Subjects - this may be more useful for the field of literature; however, if you are looking for information about a key SLA author, you could check here.
- Indexes - select an index (author, subject, etc.), enter a term, and click "browse." Note that there is a "subject language" option and a "subject literature" option. You get a "record count" number. This basically just lists languages. For example, if you enter "English," you get
You can see the range of languages or the variations in what is indexed.
When you check the box and "add" the term, it pops up a "subject field" as another qualifier for your search, thereby limiting the search further.
copyright Aline Soules 2007
under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/
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