Caitlin Hawe
INFO 521
3/8/2011
Final ipl2 Project
Question 1
Question:
Is there any information about Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore?
needed by: no need by
name: X
from: X
confirm: X
location: Rogers, Arkansas
area: Biography
reason: Research paper
school: Yes
Question Claimed: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:28:40 by Caitlin Hawe ()
Question Answered:Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:40:42 by Caitlin Hawe ()
Feedback: REQ Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:35:11 by Caitlin Hawe ()
Time Spent Answering Question: 3 hours
Response:
Greetings from the ipl2!
Thank you for your request for information on Wes Moore, the author of The Other Wes Moore.
I have found a few sources that I hope will answer your question.
1)The first website I found information on is Wikipedia.
On this page you will find information about Wes Moore's childhood, education and career.
Wikipedia is a free, online encyclopedia. Information is provided by a variety of sources and people who volunteer information.
I began my search by typing “Wes Moore” into a general search engine, such as Internet Explorer (you do not need to use the " " marks).
I scrolled down until I found the Wikipedia result.
A community of users maintains or edits this source. Because membership in this community may include non-experts, information taken from this source should be verified using other, more reliable sources.
2)I also found an article on Wes Moore on the USA Today website.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
USA Today is a credible American newspaper company. It is part of Gannett Co. Inc, a leading international media company. The author of the article is a well-known book critic for USA Today.
In the article you will find brief information about Wes Moore's life. You will also learn about his inspiration for writing the book The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates.
I began my search using Ask.com
I went to Ask.com because I knew it would allow me to browse numerous links to find appropriate websites.
On the homepage I typed “Wes Moore” into the search box (you do not need to use the " " marks)
This produced numerous results.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
I scrolled down until I saw the link for the USA Today article.
3)Information on Wes Moore is also available on the website for his book The Other Wes Moore: One name, Two Fates.
I found biographical information on Moore by going to the link About the Author at the top of the homepage.
The web page provides information on his education and military service. Additionally, there is a discussion of his inspiration behind the book.
I found the website by using the same Ask.com results for the USA Today article.
I scrolled down until I saw the link to the website for his book.
4)Information on Wes Moore is also available on the Baltimore Sun website.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
The Baltimore Sun is part of the Tribune, which is a leading multi-media company. The Tribune is the recipient of multiple Pulitzer Prizes and other journalistic awards. It is also associated with other credible papers, such as the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune.
I initially began my search using All the Web.
This engine allows you to search multiple sites at a single time.
I typed “ Wes Moore” into the search box (you do not need to use the " " marks). It produced a list of results.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience
I found a result that seemed valuable and chose to investigate.
The web page mentions a Baltimore Sun article,from 2000, that discusses Moore. Therefore I chose to investigate the article.
I then went to the Baltimore Sun website.
I typed “ Wes Moore” into the search box (you do not need to use the " "marks). I received several results. I went through the list until I found the original 2000 article on Wesley Moore,Rhodes scholar recipient. It is on the second page of the results. The article is from December 11, 2000
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
I also noticed some other articles within the same search results.
I found a Q & A with Wes Moore. This is located on the first page of the search results.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
In the article Moore discusses his young, troubled life. He also explains how he turned his life around. Additionally, he mentions his reasons for investigating the other Wes Moore and writing the book.
5 ) I noticed that you live in Rogers, Arkansas. I looked up public libraries in your area and found one in your town, the Rogers Public Library.
I went on the library's website to see if I could find Wes Moore's book. The book discusses Moore's background, as indicated by the previous online searches. On the library's homepage I selected the drop down Title. Then I typed “The Other Wes Moore” into the search box (you do not need to use the " "marks). I then selected the “Go” button.
I was directed to a record for the book.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
The record claims the item is in stock. The call number and location are also provided.
If you need help locating this book, or any additional print materials, please ask the librarian for assistance.
I hope these sources answer your question. Please don't hesitate to contact us again if you need more information.
Thank you for using ipl2.
Staff Feedback
Hi Caitlin!
You did a really good job answering this patron’s question about Wes Moore. You provided the appropriate disclaimer for the Wikipedia source and then offered more sources from reputable publications. I really liked the way you described your search, including whether or not the patron needed to use quotation marks in her searches. I also found your descriptions of the resources you found to be helpful and informative, I really understood why you chose the sources you did.
You also did a good job directing the patron to print resources in her local library. By directing her there you have shown her a valuable resource in her area for future questions.
In my answers I try to include a personal touch. That can sometimes get lost in email reference. With this patron I might have acknowledged her assignment or wished her luck on the research paper.
You did a great job answering this question. Keep up the good work and good luck with your future questions!
Sincerely,
Catherine
Set STATUS to FEEDBACK_RCV Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:06:13 by Catherine Mccort ()
Log:
Other sources consulted & strategies used: First, I began my search using ipl2. I typed “Wes Moore” into the search box on the homepage. There was no information on Wes Moore. Therefore, I decided to investigate Wikipedia to find general information about Wes Moore. Upon viewing the web page, I found that Wes Moore was a Rhodes Scholar and worked under Condoleezza Rice. As a result, I decided to explore the White House website. On the homepage I typed “Wes Moore” into the search box. Unfortunately, the White House search did not produce any information on Wes Moore. Additionally, since the user was looking for biographical information, I consulted biography websites; such as Biographical Dictionary and Biography Online. I looked up “Wes Moore” in each, but there were no results.
Critique indicating satisfaction with the answer: I am satisfied with the answer I provided. This question required a lot of digging, but I enjoyed the challenge. The user was given a variety of authoritative resources to consult for their research assignment. Additionally, the patron was referred to a local library, where they could find Wes Moore's book. The feedback from IPL staff confirmed the sources and search process would be useful to the patron.
Anything that you would do differently in the future: One thing I would do differently is provide further advice along with the Wikipedia source. Even though I included the disclaimer, I would have told the user to only consult the information as a starting point. Since the information is for a paper, a Wikipedia source should not be referenced. However, I feel that I provided sufficient information to satisfy the user's inquiry.
Question 2
Question:
How can I find out what cemeteries were active in Oakland, California in 1916?
needed by:1/30/2011
name: X
from: X
confirm: X
location: Baltimore, MD
area: General Reference
reason: Genealogy Research
school: No
sources_consulted: None
Question Claimed: Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:15:54 by Caitlin Hawe (
Question Answered:Sat, 05 Feb 2011 08:34:27by Caitlin Hawe ()
Feedback: REQ Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:36:16 by Caitlin Hawe ()
Time Spent Answering Question: 3 1/2 hours
Response:
Greetings from the ipl2!
Thank you for your inquiry on how to find cemeteries that were active in Oakland, California in the year 1916.
I have found a few sources that I hope will answer your question.
1)Find a Grave is a useful website for locating cemeteries.
Here you can search for cemeteries by location. You can also find burial records for specific people. This would be useful to your search, considering you are interested in this information for genealogy purposes.
I began my search using the ipl2 website.
The ipl2 provides a collection of useful sources selected from the Librarians Internet Index and the Internet Public Library. It was also created by librarians and information professionals. It is a great place to start a search, since it supplies an abundance of resources.
From the homepage I selected the box Resources by Subject.
Then I selected the Reference Category.
Find a Grave is the second link listed on the first page of the search results.
2) I also found information on the website I Dream of Genealogy
I looked here, because I noticed your question was genealogy related.
Under the heading County Records, and the subheading Alameda, you will find information on Oakland cemeteries. There are two specifically listed under Oakland that indicate they were active in 1916. The dates are located next to the cemetery’s name.
I began my search using ipl2.
I then selected the link for Resources by Subject on the homepage.
I then selected the Reference Category.
On the first page of the results, I saw a link for Ask.com.
I selected this search engine, because you can search multiple websites at a single time.
I then typed “Oakland California Cemeteries, 1916” into the search box (you do not need to use the " " marks).
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
From the list of results I selected the link for I Dream of Genealogy Free Databases-California Cemeteries. There is no information on who created this site, or how the information was provided. Please be aware of this when searching the website. This would be a good supplement to a more authoritative source.
3)I also found information on Interment.net
Interment.net is a website that publishes cemetery records online. Additionally, the site shows transcripts that are used by genealogists and local historians. The site is helpful in locating burial sites of relatives and tracing family history.
By selecting the specific cemetery links, you can see when each one was established or in operation. There is also a list of existing headstones in each cemetery link. For those links that do not provide the operation date, there are dates of death located next to the names. This may assist you in finding a specific person, or seeing when the cemetery was in operation.
I began my search by typing “cemetery information” into a general search engine, such as Internet Explorer (you do not need to use the " " marks).
I then selected the result for Interment.net
Under the category United States, I selected the link for California.
On the results screen there is a list of counties. I chose Alameda, since Oakland is part of Alameda County.
I was then directed to the list of cemeteries in Alameda,California.
This website was created by two individuals. One of the individuals has been actively involved in recording and publishing hundreds of cemetery records. Furthermore, she is a member of the Washington State Cemetery Association. This is an organization that is involved in obtaining legislation in order to protect the state's cemeteries. The other creator does not appear to be an expert on the topic, but rather a website manager. However, this is useful to your search since you are performing general genealogy research.
5) I also found some useful information on the Oakland Public Library website.
This link is quite long and could break, so here is a shortened version for your convenience.
Libraries are a reliable source regarding the information that you are looking for. This library would be particularly useful, since you are performing genealogy research. The Oakland Library appears to have extensive knowledge and sources on this topic.
Here you will find information on how to contact the library to obtain assistance. They provide genealogy information, directories, copies of death notices, county history and obituaries. Additionally, there are valuable websites listed on this site that can assist you in your search for specific cemeteries. You may want to contact the library and speak with one of the reference librarians.
I began my search by typing “Oakland Library” into a general search engine, such as Internet Explorer (you do not need to use the " " marks).
I was then directed to the homepage
On the homepage under Services, I selected the link for Other Library Services
On the results page, under the heading Special Collections, I selected the link Family History & Genealogy Resources.
I hope these sources answer your question. Please don't hesitate to contact us again if you need more information.
Thank you for using ipl2.
Staff Feedback
Caitlin,
Wow! You did an excellent job providing resources to not only answer the patron’s explicit question but also to aid in her general genealogical research. You looked past the patron’s initial question and helped her with a probable underlying information need.
First, you provided 4 excellent resources, two of which you found using the ipl. One note I have is that since your #2 site (I dream of…) provided the patron with a fairly direct answer, while your #1 site (Find a Grave) was less specific, it may be helpful to switch the order—presenting the #2 site first. I only say this because I checked out the Find a Grave site and found it more confusing, so if I were this patron I might be turned off by seeing that site first, whereas the second site had a very clear answer.
Second, you accurately described your search string for each resource. That will be very helpful for this patron if she decides to continue her genealogical research. However, for your third and fourth resources, you cited using “a general search engine, such as Internet Explorer.” It is important to note that Internet Explorer is actually a web browser, not a search engine. If you used a “general” search engine located in an Internet Explorer toolbar, it was probably Yahoo, Bing, Google, etc., and you should refer the patron to that search engine’s homepage so that she can more accurately recreate your search.
Third, you did a great job explaining your thought process in providing each page. You explained each resource’s authority or possible lack thereof, and pointed out parts of the site that may be useful to the patron.
Lastly, just a reminder to double-check your numbering—you skipped from 3 to 5 without using #4. No biggie there, but it’s always good to proofread before submitting, as is indicated in the checklist under “Before sending your answer”:
Overall, you did a great job. I would bet that this patron is incredibly satisfied with the sources you provided to her!
Taryn :)
Set STATUS to FEEDBACK_RCV Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:38:18
by Taryn Hickey ()
Log:
Other sources consulted & strategies used: I began my search using the ipl2. I was fortunate enough to have my initial search process produce relevant results. After consulting ipl2 I decided to search outside sources. I began by typing “cemeteries, Oakland California” into Google. This search produced a list of cemeteries. Most of the cemeteries were listed in a Yahoo directory, therefore a website was not provided. As a result, I could not determine when the cemeteries were active. Additionally, individual websites for cemeteries were listed in the Google results. I would have to go through each website to determine whether it was active in 1916. This would be too time consuming, considering the question had to be answered in 24 hours. I then decided to use more general terms, such as the one used to find the Interment source. This proved to be beneficial. Interment provided factual records and allowed me to search multiple cemeteries at once. Additionally, I found useful results rearranging the search terms to “Oakland California cemeteries” and typing them into Ask.com. I also decided to look for libraries in Oakland, California because I know many libraries have genealogy classes. The library I found happened to have an extensive genealogy department. I thought this would be valuable to the user's inquiry, since a local expert would likely be able to provide specific information to the user.