Librarian-selected bookmarks for GCLS or add us to your network Dewey Decimal System Evaluating a Website as an Information Source Library Databases vs. Websites United States Copyright - FAQ's Thomson Gale PowerSearch What are library databases? New to Email?

As an information leader of the Upstate, the Greenville County Library System provides access to quality research services and tools. Knowledgeable library staff assists the public with research by answering questions and providing accurate information, selecting resources in specific subject areas, and conducting training sessions and programs for library users.

The Reference Department of the Greenville County Library System is located on the upper level of the Hughes Main Library in downtown Greenville, SC. Staff assistance is available during all hours that the Hughes Main Library is open - Sunday 2p-6p, Monday - Friday 9a-9p, and Saturday 9a-6p.

• Reference Services: Walk-in, telephone, email, and Live Assistance via Online Chat - guided access to the full range of information products and services provided by experienced, professional staff.
• Herman N. Hipp Technology Center - free access to 40+ PCs with high-speed internet service, Microsoft Office applications, Windows Media Player, assistive technology for the visually impaired, and other specialized programs
• Mary Sims Oliphant & Alester G. Furman Reference Collection - guided access to small business and nonprofit, investment, and legal collections as well as a full range of other print research materials in the arts and humanities, general business, the social and hard sciences, sports and leisure, hobbies, consumer information, and more

Need help jump-starting your research? Find step-by-step advice here.

Not sure how to cite your research sources? Find advice here.

Dewey Decimal System

The Greenville County Library System classifies, organizes, and arranges its materials according to the Dewey Decimal Classification system. The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system, which was originally developed by library innovator Melvil Dewey in the 1870s, is the world’s most widely used library classification system. It uses decimal notation to divide recorded knowledge into 10 main classes, 100 divisions and 1,000 sections. Find out more information about the Dewey Decimal Classification system:

• Dewey Decimal Classification summaries
• Tutorial for Kids
• Tutorial for Adults

Evaluating a Website as an Information Source

Using a website as an information source for your research is far different from using print materials such as a published book, newspaper or magazine article. Why? Published books and articles generally undergo a formal editorial process to ensure accuracy, clarity, and currency of information. In contrast, the quality of information you get from a website varies widely, depending on its source. Literally anyone with a computer, internet access, and a little knowledge (and a little knowledge, as everyone knows, can be a dangerous thing) can put up a website. For example, the information you get from, say, the Smithsonian Institution, the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or Reuters websites will usually be more reliable than Uncle Bill’s personal website detailing his twenty-five-year-old memories of his two-week vacation in France, or tabloid journalism from the Weekly World News, or even than an anonymous, collaborative, community-driven information source such as Wikipedia. The basic criteria you should use to determine the research value of websites are:

Authority

• Is there an author? Is the page signed?
• If so, is the author qualified? An expert? What are the author’s credentials?
• Does the website have a sponsor? If so, is the sponsor reputable?
• Is there a link to information about the author or sponsor?
• If not, can the website’s authority be determined another way?
• Is the page listed in one or more reputable directories or pages?
• What do others say about the author or responsible authoring body?
• What type of domain produces the website?
  (educational, nonprofit, commercial, government, etc.)

• Government sites: look for .gov, .mil, .us, or other country code
• Educational sites: look for .edu
• Nonprofit organizations: look for .org
• If from a foreign country, look at the country code and read the page to be
sure who published it.

Is the domain name appropriate for the website’s content?

Accuracy

• Is the website’s information reliable? Error-free?
• Does the website have an editor responsible for fact-checking its information?
• If there are links to other pages as sources, are they to reliable sources?
• Are the links organized, and/or evaluated/annotated?

Objectivity

• Does the website contain a link to information about its purpose or mission or guiding philosophy?
• Does the website’s information reveal a minimum of bias?
• Is the website designed to sway opinion?
• Does the website contain advertising

Currency

• Is the page dated?
• If so, when was the last update?
• How current are the links? Have some expired or moved?

Coverage

• What information is covered?
  
• What does this website offer that is not found elsewhere?
• What is the website’s intrinsic value?
• How in-depth is the information the website provides?
• Is the website as good as resources I could find if I used the library,
  or some of the web-based indexes available through the library, or other print resources?

Library Databases vs. Websites

United States Copyright - Frequently Asked Questions

This information is designed to assist library patrons and does not attempt to cover all aspects of copyright law. Copyright law is subject to change by legislation and by court decisions. Some copyright guidelines and procedures are still open to legal interpretation.

General questions:

How do I copyright something I wrote, composed, recorded, etc.?

• All original works that have been put into a tangible form are automatically protected by copyright law. To register a copyright, forms must be filed with the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559-6000. For more information, call (202) 707-3000. The Copyright Office web site (http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright) contains lots of information, as well as forms that can be printed out. They also have a Frequently Asked Questions section at http://www.loc.gov/copyright/faq.html.

How long does copyright protection last?

The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended the length of copyright protection.
The new terms are listed below:

• For works created after January 1, 1978-life of the author plus 70 years; in the case of joint authors, this applies to the last surviving author
• For pre-1978 works still in their original or renewal term of copyright-total term is extended to 95 years from the date that copyright was originally secured
• For works created but not published before January 1, 1978-life of the author plus 70 years; if the work is published before December 31, 2002, the term will not expire before December 31, 2047

If a work does not have the copyright notice or symbol printed on it, does that mean it is not copyrighted?

• No. Since 1978 the copyright notice has been optional.

How do I know if something is still under copyright protection?

• Look for the date of copyright or original publication date and then apply the terms listed above. If a copyright date cannot be found or if there is any question, the Copyright Office will research a title at a cost of $150 per hour. The publisher may also be able to supply that information. Additional information my be found in the Copyright Circular titled "How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work"

How much of a work can an individual copy without violating copyright law?

• The "fair use" provision of the copyright law allows individuals to make copies for private study, scholarship or research purposes. There is no specified limit to the amount of the work that can be copied. These copies must not be used for commercial purposes, however, and they must be for the use of the individual alone and not for distribution.

This information was taken from the website of the South Carolina State Library.

Thomson Gale PowerSearch -- Select from a list of Gale Thomson databases. Search multiple databases simultaneously with a single query.

PowerSearch -- Getting Started

PowerSearch features include:

• Basic, Subject, Publication, and Advanced Searching
• Bookmarks
• Search Alerts
• Quick Search
• Document delivery by email, print, and download

Citation Tool generates MLA or APA style citations and supports exporting to third-party software (Endnote, ProCite, Reference Manager, and RefWorks).

What are library databases?

Library databases are paid for by taxpayer dollars.

• DISCUS* databases are provided by the state of South Carolina.
• The other databases on our website are paid for by the Greenville County Library System.

Library databases provide information from published works.

• Sources may include magazine and newspaper articles, encyclopedias and other books, government documents, and pamphlets.
• Many library databases contain full-text articles that can be printed out or emailed.

There are different kinds of library databases.

• Directories. Examples: Reference USA, FoundationDirectory
• Periodical databases. Example: General Reference Center
• Specialized databases. Examples: Dictionary of American History

Library databases cover many subjects.

• Business; Health; Literature; Science; Law, Biography; History

DISCUS is a service of the South Carolina State Library and is funded by an appropriation from the South Carolina General Assembly through the K-12 School Technology Initiative, and the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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Google Tutorial -- Google's tutorial to its own free email service. Learn how to get started with Gmail. Learn how to access Gmail, compose and send email messages, organize your inbox, and more.

Yahoo! Mail Tutorial - For Yahoo! -- Yahoo's tutorial to its own free email service. Learn how to set up and access Yahoo! email, compose and send email messages, manage your mailbox, search for messages, and more.