Citation Pearl-Growing Search in ASC

Search topic: Lifelong learning resources in public libraries
Database: Academic Search Complete (ASC)
Strategy: From a previous search using "Lifelong Learning" and "Librar*" as my initial search terms I found an article that's particularly pertinent to my topic, so I use it as my "pearl" and look up its record to see what descriptors may be useful to to retrieve more articles like it.

Title: Public Policy as a Factor Influencing Adult Lifelong Learning, Adult literacy, and Public Libraries.
Authors: McCook, Kathleen de la Pena
Barber, Peggy
Source: Reference & User Services Quarterly; Fall2002, Vol. 42 Issue 1, p66, 10p
Subject Terms: *LIBRARY science*LEARNING*FUNCTIONAL literac*LITERACY programs
Abstract: Reviews the context for librarianship and adult lifelonglearning and literacy programs in light of federal legislation in the U.S. as of 2002. Details of the ethical dilemmas of the work first ideology; Capacity of the librarian to foster an attitude of creation and recreation; Role of education of librarianship in preparing graduates to understand the philosophical context of work with adult lifelong learners.

So I added "literacy" to my next search and retrieved 28 hits, with my "pearl" as hit #22:

Evaluation: This strategy greatly improves recall, and that's why it's also called the "snowballing approach." The search terms can be modified along the way depending on the retrieved results. For example from record #23 above there are subject terms that may be incorporated in the next search to retrieve more pertinent results in this particular database:

Subject Terms:

*PUBLIC libraries
*INFORMATION literacy

The search may be repeatedly modified until a satisfactory number of hits have been retrieved. As in previous search strategies, Boolean limiters (AND, WITH, NOT) and non-subject limiters (date, language, document type) are tools for refining the search to a manageable number of hits.

From doing these search excercises I find that each search strategy is best suited for a particular information need, and oftentimes a combination of strategies yields the best results. For instance if the search topic is fairly narrow, then one may start out with the most specific facet first, then if necessary modify the search by the citation pearl-growing approach to improve recall. If the search topic is broad, then either the successive fractions or the building block approach is a more appropriate starting point.

Successive Fractions Search in Project MUSE

Search topic: Lifelong learning /programs / in public libraries
Strategy: Start with the broadest concept, "programs"--> 17365 hits, then search "public libra*" within results ---> 4123 hits, then search "lifelong learning" within results ---> 237 hits

Below is the record of a good hit:

You searched for: programs in All Fields w/Text AND public AND librar* in All Fields w/Text AND lifelong AND learning in All Fields w/Text

Displaying: 1 to 10 of 237 results

Relevance Date, Latest First Date, Earliest First Journal, A-Z Journal, Z-A

10 25 50 75 100

	Search Within Results:
Modify Search OR		All Fields (w/text) All Fields except text Article Text Article Author Article Title Subject Headings Journal Title ----- Author Reviewed Title Reviewed

9. Gold, Helen E.
Engaging the Adult Learner: Creating Effective Library Instruction
portal: Libraries and the Academy - Volume 5, Number 4, October 2005, pp. 467-481 - Article
[View HTML] [View PDF]

Subject Headings:
Library orientation for college students -- Florida -- Saint Petersburg.
Eckerd College. Library.

Abstract Adult learners have unique developmental and social characteristics as compared to their traditional counterparts in higher education. Library instruction models used for traditional learners are not always effective when teaching adults. The author examines adult learner characteristics and adult learning theory and also uses personal professional experiences to suggest ways in which librarians can create more pedagogically effective and meaningful instruction. Eckerd College's Program for Experienced Learners serves as the model for this examination.


Evaluation: This strategy is similar to the building block search, except that one starts the search with the broadest concept, then narrows it down successively using Boolean limiters. For this particular topic and this database, it does not seem to matter what order the other concepts are searched within the results from the starting broadest concept. For instance, after getting 17365 hits for "program," I can search for "public libra*" within results and get 4123 hits as above, or I can search for "lifelong learning" within results and get a lot less, 481 hits; either way, when I search within results for the remaining concept, the outcome is exactly the same: 237 hits, same documents, same order of relevancy! Logically, even if there are a million concepts to search through successively, the order of the last two concepts can be switched and the end results would still be the same...neat!

Specific Facet Search in LibLit

My search topic is lifelong learning/resources/ in public libraries. This search starts with the topic's most specific facet which is “lifelong learning.” To increase my chances of finding relevant hits I also include a related term, “continuous education.” I search Library Literature (LibLit) since my next specific facet, “public libraries,” would be partly covered by this database for library literature. Below is the record of a good hit:

Search Results:

1776 Records found for (lifelong learning) Smart Search OR (continu* education) Smart Search

In Library Lit & Inf Full Text

90% 10 of 1776

Library Owns? Find Full-Text
Title:	'C' stands for 'Continuing...'
Personal Author:	Birdi, Briony
Journal Name:	Public Library Journal
Source:	Public Library Journal v. 22 no. 4 (Winter 2007) p. 4
Publication Year:	2007
Subject(s):	Continuing education
ISSN:	0268-893X
Language of Document:	English
Document Type:	Feature Article
Database:	Library & Information Science
Accession Number:	200734901050004

Evaluation: This is an efficient way to start a search, especially in a topic with more than two concepts (facets), provided the user knows which concept is most specific in the search topic. Otherwise one can search each facet individually to find the most specific facet, i.e. the one that yields the lowest number of hits. In this case the more specific facet is quite evident without having to actually conduct individual searches for each facet. The initial 1776 hits obviously needs to be narrowed down to a manageable number, and Boolean limiters (e.g. AND, WITH) may be used to incorporate the remaining facets in the search topic (in this case "public libraries" and "resources/programs"). In other words, a building block search is the next logical step here. Non-subject limiters such as language, document type, and year of publication can also be applied to further narrow down the search.

Building Block Search in ERIC

Search topic: Resources for lifelong learning in public libraries
Database: Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
Search strategy: Building block S1 + S2 + S3 --> results
S1 - lifelong learning or continuing education
S2 - public librar*[-y,-ies] or community librar*[-y,-ies]
S3 - resource*[-s] or program*[-s]

Search Criteria in ERIC:
((Keywords:lifelong and Keywords:learning or Keywords:continuing and Keywords:education) and (Keywords:public and Keywords:librar* or Keywords:community and Keywords:librar*) and (Keywords:resource* or Keywords:program*))

My search retrieves 826 hits. Below is the record of first hit:

1. Designs for Change: Libraries and Productive Aging. Report on the National Library Leaders Forum (Washington, DC, September 26-27, 2005) (ED495803)
Author(s): Zeisel, William Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services Pub Date: 2006-00-00
Descriptors: Public Libraries; Museums; Library Services; Baby Boomers; Government Libraries; Lifelong Learning; Guidelines; Demography; Demonstration Programs; Futures (of Society); Information Science Education; Aging (Individuals); Adult Development; Access to Information; Gerontology; Benchmarking; Library Role; Citizen Participation Abstract: As the first of the baby boomers turn 60, public libraries are preparing to offer creative alternatives to retirement to a generation notorious for their idealism and activism. This report from the Americans for Libraries Council (ALC) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) offers guidelines, demographics, and examples of model programs to public libraries interested in connecting these active older adults to new opportunities for learning, work, and community service. On September 26-27, 2005, Americans for Libraries Council and the Institute of Museum and Library Services convened a Library Leaders Forum, "Designs for Change: Libraries and Productive Aging," to examine key issues relating to the aging opportunity. The meeting was held as part of ALC's Lifelong Access Libraries initiative, which seeks to foster fundamental changes in how librarians provide services and opportunities to active older adults. The key findings include recognition that the current paradigm of library services for "seniors" does not match the characteristics and potential contributions of the baby boomer generation; that the profession is not organized to support coordinated change; that there is no central, easily accessible database of best practices; and that the challenges and opportunities of demographic change must be shared across sectors, fields, and disciplines. The call to action emphasizes a need for leadership to bring about change at all levels of the library community. It also highlights the importance of finding new approaches to services and defining benchmarks and frameworks for their dissemination. It urges creation of a community of practice. Appended are: (1) Trends: Older Adults, Productive Activity and Civic Engagement; (2) Bibliography of Selected Works by Presenters, National Advisors and Aging Organizations; (3) Forum Agenda; and (4) Forum Participants. ["Designs for Change" is supported by a generous grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies and additional support from Institute of Museum and Library Services and Americans for Libraries Council.] Note:The following two links are not-applicable for text-based browsers or screen-reading software. Show Hide Full Abstract Full-Text Availability Options: ERIC Full Text (1801K)

Evaluation: Due to the broad nature of my topic, the number of retrieved documents is rather high. Because the records are displayed in order of decreasing revelancy, I am able to assess that the retrieval precision is relatively low, dropping off sharply after the first 100 hits or so. To increase the precision I can start the search with the most specific facet in my topic (lifelong learning), then narrow down the results further using Boolean operators (AND public libraries AND resource or program NOT statistics). Non-subjects attributes can also be used to limit the search, for example document type (full-text), language (English), and publication year (after 1999).