Literature Resource Center
by Char Booth and Amy Wander
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What is it?
- The Literature Resource Center is an
online gateway to information on literary figures from a
variety genres and formats.
This Gale Group database
connects users to biographical information on over 120,000
authors, and includes over 10,000 biocritical essays.
- It includes full-text access to Gale's
Literature Criticism and For Students series.
How do I use it?
- The LRC offers five distinct search
features: author, title, advanced, keyword, and authors by
type. Users can also access a lengthy Literary Historical
Timeline.
- This database is suitable for high school
and college students, as well as the sophisticated casual
user.
| Strengths |
Weaknesses |
• In-depth resource for literature and authors
• Offers full-text articles
•
Variety of search techniques, i.e. advanced searching
includes themes genres, and author's nationality
• Similar feel to Student Resource Gold ?
compatible searching and help options
• Option
to print, email, and save articles |
• Only offers articles on a select number of
authors not comprehensive
• There is article
overlap among tabs offers redundant information at
times
• The number of different tabs can be
overwhelming to a new user
• No saving
searches or marked lists
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The following examples show the
three most common searches you will use on LRC:
Where Do I Start
Searching?
1. This starting page directs you to the search options available in LRC.
2.
This page allows you to choose from five search options: author, title, advanced, keyword, and authors by
type .
3. Users can also search and browse
a literary historical timeline .
4.
This screen offers a default search author .
5. From this page, you can
access more LRC information as well as the help
screen .
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Title Search allows users to search literary materials by
title.
EXAMPLE: : I'd like to find
information about the Richard Wright novel Native Son.
Step 1 : Choose whether you
would like to search for a title or an author name.
Step 2 :
In the first text box, enter the title of the work you would
like to search.
Step 3 : Select whether any words entered, all words entered , or exact title best represents your search.
Step 4 : OR , in the
second text box, enter the name of the author.
Step 5 : Enter the full name , or a portion of the name, and
click 'search.'
SEARCH TIP: When using the exact
title search do include the leading article of the title ("The," "A," "An,"
etc.). The Title Search is not case sensitive.
Advanced Search For users with more complicated information
needs, the advanced search option provides a range of search
options.
EXAMPLE: How do I do a search for critical essays about autobiographical elements in Maya Angelou's work?
Step 1 : Enter your keywords
in the available entry fields if using multiple search
fields, determine whether you want your searches connected
with AND , OR , or NOT .
Step 2 : Use the drop-down boxes to determine your search
criteria there are a number of options.
Step
3 : Browse the options in these
boxes before settling on any one choice ? the options should
affect your choice of keywords.
Step 4: Choose the document type(s) you would like to
search.
Step 5: Click ' search. '
SEARCH TIP: Before conducting a
search, make a list of keywords and synonyms and try several searches
using different combinations of those keywords.
This page was revised by Sophronia Bruno in Spring 2007.
This page was revised by Jennifer Coffey in Spring 2006.
INF 382S: Library Instruction and Information Literacy, taught by Dr. Loriene Roy
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
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