INTRODUCTION

ITT Technical Institute provides its students and faculty with a Virtual Library that not only supports their teaching, learning, and research needs, but also offers opportunities for further academic and intellectual exploration. The Virtual Library is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, from any Web-enabled computer. By utilizing the technological advances and the dynamic environment of the World Wide Web, we have created a library that comes to the user. Our Virtual Library provides access to rich databases that provide a mix of searching and information delivery to bring documents directly to a user's desktop. Our collection includes full-text online books, periodical databases providing access to full-text magazines and journals, authoritative encyclopedias, subject dictionaries and other reference resources, and links to Web sites selected for relevance to ITT Tech programs of study. In addition, the Virtual Library provides traditional library services in the online environment. Information seekers receive support through our "Ask a Librarian" reference service and curriculum-specific research guides, tutorials, and collections of frequently asked questions and answers.

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BROWSER REQUIREMENTS

Depending on your personal computer’s operating system, you need the following browser software:

Windows 98/XP and NT/2000 users:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher

Macintosh PowerPC/iMac users:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.00 or higher

Firefox or Netscape browsers are not supported at this time.

Regardless of your browser type, it must support JavaScript. Users have reported problems accessing the Virtual Library when using browsers other than those listed above.

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HOW TO GET STARTED

Step 1: Click on either the student or faculty/staff registration link provided under the Login area on the homepage.
Step 2: Read through the Registration Instructions.
Step 3: Complete the Registration form; click on Send Registration Information.
Step 4: At the completion of successful registration, the Main Menu page will display. Begin selecting and using Virtual Library resources and services.

Step 1: If you have already registered, enter your user name and password in the Login spaces provided.
Step 2: From the Main Menu page, begin selecting and using Virtual Library resources and services.

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HOW TO LOCATE INFORMATION IN THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY

Virtual Library resources are displayed after you have successfully logged in with your user name and password. These resources include reference databases, online books, periodicals, information services, and collections of recommended Internet resources.

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HOW TO USE THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY'S SEARCH FUNCTION

When you click on the library's Search button, you have the option to:

• Conduct a Basic or Advanced search.
  • The Basic search page include a simple search box for you to begin your search query. The Advanced search page includes four search boxes to create a custom search query.
  • Boolean operators and, or, not are supported. Phrase searching is also supported.
  • A list of resources is provided below the search box. You can select individual resources or check the 'Select All' box to search the entire collection.
• Select a search method.
  • The 'Search by Database' option allows you to select one, several, or all resources. Database descriptions will help you determine the best choices for your research topic.
  • The 'Search by Subject' option allows you to select a group of resources best matching your research needs. For example, search all resources related to general education. The relevance of the results should be increased by searching specific subject categories.
• Enter a search query.
  • A Basic search query defaults to the TITLE search field; Advanced search allows you to select a search field. Some resources may not support all fields listed.
  • A search status screen appears as results are collected. The Results Page can take varying amounts of time to appear.

There are several ways to utilize search results:

• Links are provided to online books and articles.
• A 'Revise search' option is available; search terms can be changed or added to the Advanced search form.
• Sort results by date, title, author, or source.
• The number of results from the search are reported. Sources have varying limits on the number of results that can be returned for each query. Click on 'Get more results' to get the next batch of results.
• Results are displayed 10 to a page. You can navigate to other pages of results by clicking on a page number.
• Save or print search result records by clicking on "Export Records." Select either HTML or text format.
• Duplicate records found in more than one source are identified.

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VIRTUAL LIBRARY RESOURCES

• REFERENCE RESOURCES

  Our collection of reference resources includes materials selected to provide well-organized information that can be searched for specific topics of interest related to the ITT Technical Institute curricula. General and subject-specific encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories are available as well as selected links to recommended Web resources.

• BOOKS

  Several collections of full-text books are available through the ITT Technical Institute Virtual Library. The collections are continually growing as the publishing industry makes more items available in electronic format. Our library provides access to online books in both HTML and PDF formats. The collections cover a wide variety of academic subjects including technology, engineering, electronics, computer-aided drafting, design, networking, Web development, certifications, software, circuits, and computer security as well as business, economics, sociology, and the arts.

• PERIODICALS

  The periodical databases include millions of abstracts and articles from thousands of magazines and journals. A broad array of general-interest, technology, and news topics are represented across the Virtual Library's subscription databases. Subject areas include computers, health, science, education, sociology, business, law, criminology, the arts, psychology, economics, history, drafting, information technology, industrial design, telecommunications, networking, electronics, and many more.

• PROGRAM LINKS

  Links selected by ITT Tech faculty for usefulness to students are listed in the Program Links area. Categories include professional organizations, textbook support sites, and recommended links. The 'Program Links' heading on the central Main Menu displays the name of the last program selected. To change the program displayed, select another program from the Program Links page and then logout. Log back in and the program last selected will be displayed.

• LEARNING GUIDES

  Learning Guides offer instruction in research, links to Web-based tutorials, and other materials designed to help students access and use library resources and services.

HOW TO USE A PERIODICAL DATABASE

Step 1: Choosing a database

EbscoHost databases are a good choice for general interest and cross-disciplinary information. Use these resources to locate articles on health, education, business, social science and other broad topics. ProQuest databases should be used for science, computer, and business topics.

Step 2: Starting a search

Step 3: Viewing the search results

Articles that match your search request are displayed next. The listing will contain key information about the article, including the title, author, and the name and date of the periodical where it was published. Additional information provided may include the number of pages, journal volume number, whether it is illustrated, etc. You will be able to determine whether the complete article (full text or full image) or an abstract of the article is available.

Step 4: Refining the search

You may find that your results are not what you wanted or expected. You can refine your search by using different keywords, adding or subtracting search terms, limiting your search to a particular publication or time period, specifying that you are only interested in full text articles, or using any of the Advanced or Guided Search features that are available. These features are well explained on the help screens within the databases.

Step 5: Viewing and printing the results

You may display an article by clicking on its title from the results list. The complete citation information will be displayed at the top of the page followed by the abstract and the text of the content. You may print the article or email it to an account to print later. We recommend that you record key information about articles you wish to re-visit later. EbscoHost and ProQuest databases provide article URLs that can be used later, but you must be logged into the database for the article URL to work properly. The article URL is called the "persistent link" in the EbscoHost databases and the "document URL" in ProQuest. The article URL is displayed at the top of the article along with the other bibliographic information (title, author, publication, subject headings, etc.). To use an article's persistent URL or document URL at a later time, login to the Virtual Library, select the appropriate database (where article is located), and then paste the URL into your browser's address space.

These general steps can help you get started. The best information on how to use the databases is found within the databases themselves through the "Help" buttons and explanations printed on each screen.

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HOW TO USE THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY'S ONLINE BOOKS

Online books are digital versions of printed books. There are several advantages this format offers over traditional books. Online books can be viewed with a Web browser at any time from any computer connected to the Internet. This means that they are available when you need them; no need to be on campus or wait until an item is returned to the LRC to borrow it. The ITT Technical Institute Virtual Library’s collection of titles has been selected specifically to support ITT Technical Institute curricula. Each title is full text and includes the graphics, illustrations, charts, photographs, etc. of the print counterpart.

The online book collections can be searched by title, topic, or keyword with results displayed in order of relevance. The online books available through the ITT Technical Institute Virtual Library are provided through license agreements and are protected by copyright and other laws. Use does not permit unauthorized reproduction, republishing, or transfer. Systematic or programmatic copying or downloading is not allowed.

VIRTUAL LIBRARY SERVICES

• ASK A LIBRARIAN

  The Virtual Library’s Ask a Librarian is a service that provides ITT Technical Institute students, faculty, and staff with the means to seek and receive online reference services. This service is staffed by professional librarians who provide online assistance with developing effective search strategies, information about using Virtual Library databases and resources, and help with reference questions. 'Ask a Librarian' cannot provide detailed bibliographies, answers to course assignments or homework questions, or research.

• ONLINE ASSISTANCE

  Many questions can be answered using the online information tools available. Help is just a mouse click away:
  
  

  • Introductory tour
  • User Guide
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Login Help
  • Password Recovery
  • Contact Us

• MY LINKS

  My Links is a Virtual Library service that allows you to store your favorite Web links. Each time you enter the Virtual Library, your selected links are available to you. It is much like "bookmarking" a Web site so that you can quickly and easily return to it. The difference is that your personal links are available to you whether you are entering the Virtual Library from home, school, or work.

• LEARNING GUIDES

  Student Research Guides are available through the Virtual Library to provide online assistance to students at the first stage of research. The Guides cover topics which represent common assignments made by ITT Technical Institute faculty.

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