Webquest Using OPACs

For this webquest you're going to use the features of the SILS library OPAC. With SILS, borrowers anywhere in the province of Saskatchewan may use their library card to request any book in the entire province for delivery to their local library. 

These are the skills you need to develop for this activity:

1. Read and follow instructions.
2. Understand the requirements of locating a book in the SILS online database or OPAC.
3. Locate specific titles in the OPAC and find required information.
4. Take accurate notes to answer specific questions.

Steps in this activity:

1. Locate the title requested in SILS.
2. Check the location and availability of each requested title. 
3. Check the subject headings listed for each requested title.

The task outlined step-by-step (take careful notes):

1.  Go to the SILS Encore catalogue at: http://encore.sasklibraries.ca/iii/encore/home?lang=eng
2. Click on the Advanced Search option under the search box.
3. Select author and enter the author's surname of the first item required in the first box, then select title and enter a keyword from the title in the second box. 

 

  4. Click on Search and find the article record in the OPAC.
  5. At the article record locate the required information. Note that availability, location, tags, and other information is written down the left side of the webpage.
  6. Write the answer/information required beside the question number on a sheet of paper.
  7. Complete all the searches.
  8. Do the "check" to see if you've found all the correct answers by following the final instructions below.

ITEM LIST
Find each item and related piece of information listed below:

• The book, Run, by Linda Aksomitis. Write down the name of the illness that is tagged (a tag is  a subject heading, depending what part of this catalogue you're viewing). 
• The book, Racing Home, by Adele Dueck. Write down the additional format (besides print book) that this title is available in. 
• The book, A Prairie Alphabet, by Jo Bannatyne-Cugnet. Write down the surname of the added author listed for this book.
• The book, Waiting for the Sun, by Alison Lohans. Write down the name of the main character who is waiting for the sun as given in the book summary. 
• The book, Igloo, by Yasmine A. Cordoba. Write down the subject heading that deals with places to live.
• The book, Dust, by Arthur Slade. Write down the name of the geographic location given in the subject headings as being in Saskatchewan and Alberta. 
• The book, Alexandria of Africa, by Eric Walters. Write down the name of the first library the book is listed at in the Locations.
• The book, Dinosaur Hideout, by Judith Silverthorne. Write down the location listed between Langenburg and Ituna. 

You should have eight answers written in order on your sheet of paper.

Checking Your Answers

To check your answers, do the following.

1. Circle the first letter of every answer you've written down from one through eight. 
2. Recopy each letter out in order to form a single word with eight letters. 
3. If the word spells out the name of a food prepared from lean dried strips of meat pounded into paste, mixed with fat and berries, and pressed into small cakes then you've found all the right answers. 
4. If the letters you have don't spell out the required word, check which letters are incorrect and go back to the question that you got wrong and try again.

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This material was gathered by Linda Aksomitis

Instructor for Introduction to Internet Writing Markets

and Credenda Virtual College