This week in my COMM 100 class, we started off at the library to explore some research options we are given here at Penn State. We began by meeting our guide and librarian, Cheryl, who would show us around and was one of the experts in the communications department of the library.

We began to tour the Pattee side of the library getting shown the little things that could help us with our studies. We were taken to the IT Desk, a camera lab where we can shoot videos for projects, a “for pleasure” book section, a movie/CD section that we may need and a couple more helpful places. Cheryl lightly touched upon some resources we have available to us as well as herself. Once our tour was over, we headed towards a classroom to learn about what we have access to online to use for our research during our time at college. 

First, we started on the libraries website to navigate the various different resources we could use depending on the type of information we were searching for. Cheryl took us through the various pages and key ways to search for the relevant topics we would be looking for.

Coming from high school, research seems very basic and surface level compared to what I now have access to at Penn State. Cheryl then showed us the different categories to choose from in order to narrow down our searches as well as the difference between using the words “and” and “or” when searching. Although it doesn’t seem like a big difference, I learned that by using “and” your search will be more narrower where as if I used “or” I would have much broader results.

I then learned the different filters I can apply to the search results I come upon in order to narrow down my search even more such as date, location and type of file of information. Cheryl continued to go through a couple more examples with my class in order to make sure we retained the valuable information she was giving us. 

At first, I had my doubts as to why we had to spend a class learning about how to find specific resources for upcoming projects but after sitting through the class, I realized how important it was for my future work. As I am maturing in my writing and in my work levels, I also need to update the way that I find my information.

Penn State offers an immeasurable amount of articles, papers, magazines and other sources from 600 different platforms that students have at their disposal to use that the public may not. This platform can aid my writing so much just by using different information from more reliable sources.

As we went through our class discussion the room was relatively quiet. Cheryl did a good job of engaging us as an audience by frequently asking questions. One thing that I think got not just my attention, but the rest of my peers, was the fact that we have access to information that not everyone else on the internet does. This struck interest in us all because it showed how valuable the program actually was.

I know in my journey through college, I will be using these resources and even after college through the alumni program. Before we left, Cheryl gave us papers to remind ourselves of her contact information, some key points of the presentation, and some other library contacts we could use when in need.

The presentation showed me that I am given an abundance of assets through the library that I should take advantage of. As I go through summer session, my default browser for my research will be through the libraries website and that will be a healthy habit I carry through till the fall.