Database: WorldCat
Search Strategy: Specific Facet First
Initial Question: What techniques are effective in developing successful book clubs for children?
Rationale: For the second of four searching competencies, I chose to use the WorldCat database, which I had used once in the past, but, was not highly familiar with. Using the same initial question I had on the first searching competency, I believed that there most likely would not be a high quantity of resources available on the topic. Having previously used the successive fractions strategy to search, and feeling that this method started out much too broad, I thought the specific facet first strategy would help narrow my results in a more timely fashion.
Key Terms/Facets:
Key Terms or Facets | techniques | book clubs | children |
My Initial Terms | ▪strategies ▪methods | ▪literature circles ▪book discussion groups ▪literature clubs | ▪kids ▪elementary students |
WorldCat Thesaurus Terms | ▪learning strategies | ▪book clubs ▪library clubs | ▪children ▪pre-teens ▪preadolescents ▪preteenagers ▪students ▪school children |
I had difficulty finding WorldCat thesaurus terms to match the facet 'techniques.' The closest match I could produce was 'learning strategies,' though this really wasn't what I was looking for. I even went to an online thesaurus and used all the synonyms for techniques I could locate ('tactics,' 'systems,' 'approaches,' etc.), but none produced results in WorldCat.
Facet Retrieval Results:
I performed a Subject Search on each facet phrase to determine which facet produced the least number of results, as this would be my starting facet following the specific facet first strategy.
Facet Phrase Searched | Records Retrieved |
learning strategies | 1,982 |
(book clubs OR library clubs) | 2,306 |
(children OR pre-teens OR preadolescents OR preteenagers OR students OR school children) | 1,310,784 |
Narrowing the Search Results:
According to the specific facet first strategy, you should start with the most unique facet that produces the least number of results, and then add a second facet to produce more targeted results. You should continue gradually adding facets as needed to best match the needs of your initial question. In following this strategy, I completed the following succession of searches.
Search 1 (Subject Search):
(learning strategies)
Records Retrieved: 1,982
Reflection: The first time I ran the facet phrases, I was surprised that 'learning strategies' produced the least number of results, as I felt that the 'book clubs' facet was most unique. Not surprisingly, this search was much too broad to provide resources pertinent to my initial question.
Search 2 (Subject Search):
(learning strategies) AND (book clubs OR library clubs)
Records Retrieved: 0
Reflection: This search provided no results. The phrase 'learning strategies' continued to bother me as it was not a direct match for my original facet 'techniques.' I decided it was leading my search astray and chose to eliminate this facet during the next search.
Search 3 (Subject Search):
(book clubs OR library clubs)
Records Retrieved: 2,306
Reflection: In scanning through the first two pages of the records this search produced, there did seem to be a few pertinent results, however, they seemed more targeted towards adults, when my question was specifically about children. Following this logic, I believed that adding the 'children' facet to the 'book clubs' facet should produce more pertinent records.
Search 4 (Subject Search):
(book clubs OR library clubs) AND (children OR pre-teens OR preadolescents OR preteenagers OR students OR school children)
Records Retrieved: 192
Reflection: While this search still produced quite a few results, there were definitely much more pertinent resources scattered throughout. I was easily able to scan through each page of results and pick out the resources that would be useful in answering my initial question.
Pertinent Records Citations:
Criswell, P. K., & Douglass, A. (2007). The book club book. Middleton, WI: American Girl.
Daniels, Harvey. (2002). Literature circles: voice and choice in book clubs and reading groups. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.
Day, J. P. (2002). Moving forward with literature circles: How to plan, manage, and evaluate literature circles that deepen understanding and foster a love of reading. New York: Scholastic Professional Books.
Gelman, Judy, et al. (2007). The kids' book club book: Reading ideas, recipes, activities, and smart tips for organizing terrific kids' book clubs. New York, NY: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated.
Smith, L.J.H. (2004). The book bunch: Developing book clubs for beginning readers. Fort Atkinson, WI: Upstart Books.
Soltan, Rita. (2006). Reading raps: A book club guide for librarians, kids, and families. Westport, CN: Libraries Unlimited.
Conclusion: I was very pleased with the outcome of the specific facet first search strategy as well as the WorldCat database. This search produced the greatest number of pertinent results on my topic compared to any search I had completed in the past. While it took a little extra brainwork to determine that the 'learning strategies' facet was not an appropriate fit, once I eliminated this facet and followed the specific facet first approach, I was able to locate a good number of pertinent results. I will definitely use this strategy as well as the WorldCat website in the future.
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