• Knowledge of library services, resources, and collections within and beyond the CSUF Pollak Library
• Knowledge of indexes, abstracts, articles, scholarly journals, popular magazines
• Search skills and strategies
• Skills to use web-based databases

• Citing print and electronic references

• CSUF Library Catalog -- Books, journals, and other materials in the CSUF Library.
• LINK+ -- Books, journals, etc. in several CA libraries, including 9 CSU libraries and the Claremont Colleges Libraries.
• Melvyl -- Books, journals, etc. in UC and other libraries in the state of California.
• WorldCat -- Books and other materials from libraries worldwide.

Electronic Journal Collections
NOTE:  Under the Research menu on the Library's Home Page, you will find a link to:
Find Journal Titles -- a searchable listing of the journals in the Pollak Library, including electronic holdings.  The list links directly to the databases that include each title.

Databases containing full-text electronic scholarly articles include:

• Science Direct -- Click on link to Science Direct, then chose Search.  Under Subject, select Computer Science.
• Wiley Interscience -- Click on link to Wiley Interscience, then Advanced Search.  Restrict search to journals in subject category Computer Science by checking the box next to that category.
  

Databases with Full-text (or Selected Full-text) Articles

• Expanded Academic ASAP -- Offers indexes/abstracts and selected full-text articles in multiple disciplines.
• Factiva -- Offers over 8000 newspapers, news magazines, and news wires in full-text..
• LexisNexis Academic Universe -- Select News, or Business.  Use Guided News Search for best results.
• ABI/INFORM Global.  Especially strong in business-related applications.

Indexes/Abstracts Databases

• Applied Science and Technology.
• Computer Abstracts.
• Dissertation Abstracts.
• Engineering Village 2 -- Select database Compendex.
• Internet & Personal Computing Abstracts

• Use search engines like Google, Yahoo, Altavista, Excite, etc.  To see a list of several search engine choices, go to the Library's Home Page, hover over Research and select Web Resources.

• Browse subject directories such as:
  
  • Argus Clearing House:  http://www.clearinghouse.net
    
  • EEVL:  http://www.eevl.ac.uk/
    The Internet Guide to Engineering, Mathematics, and Computing
    
  • Internet Public Library:  http://ipl.org/
    
  • Librarian's Index to the Internet:  http://lii.org/
    
  • WWW Virtual Library:  http://vlib.org/
    

• Use the Society and Association Web sites related to your field:
  • Association for Computing Machinery
  • IEEE
  • The Institute of Electrical Engineers
  • National Science Foundation
  • Leading Universities or Research Institutes in the field

• Use web site reviews from various literature or learn from your professors, fellow students, colleagues, etc..

How can I tell the good, the beautiful, and the truthful from the bad, the ugly, and the false?
Learn to evaluate Internet resources!   Consider the following criteria:

Authority
Content
Accuracy
Currency
Objectivity
Usability & Aesthetics

Check out the pointers on Evaluating Web Resources.

• Pollak Library has web pages offering citation help: CyberCitations links to information about style guides such as MLA, APA, Turabian, and Chicago.  These style manuals are also available at the Library's Reference Desk.  The Library Survival Skills Citations Page gives examples of several citation formats.  Please consult your professor for the appropriate style manual required.
• If you are asked to use the same format as a particular journal, see that journal's instructions for authors for guidance.  You can often find this on the journal's web page as well as in a recent issue of the journal.
• Referencing Electronic Information:
  • When citing electronic and Internet references, additional information is often required.  Be sure to consult the appropriate style guide or the helping pages above for special instructions on citing resources such as journal articles obtained in electronic format or information retrieved from a web page.