The Lens

What is The Lens?

The Lens is a template with instructions and tips to guide you through analysing the search facilities of databases. As well as the full Lens template a 'cheat sheet' template allows you to put together a simplified resource for staff and clients to use.

The Lens was created by Marion Bannister, then at Charles Sturt University, in response to an identified training need for the development of skills and strategies in information retrieval from databases. The Lens was created as the core of a database skills and strategies training program. The term 'lens' refers to the tool for librarians to look through into the database, bringing into sharp focus its key elements.

The Lens template is available to public library staff to develop their own templates and cheat sheets, for use in their libraries and for adding into The Lens Library - a collection of cheat sheets for use by all. Please contact Marion Bannister directly if you are interested in face-to-face training.

Prior Knowledge

The Lens requires basic skills in searching databases. If you want to familiarise yourself with basic search skills, several online tutorials are available:

http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/vl/sstrat/sstrprin.htm

Glossary of terms used in database searching

How The Lens works

The Lens is used in two ways:

  1. As a checklist to record the main elements commonly found in databases.

    Analysing databases with The Lens helps you:
    • develop and enhance generic database searching skills, strategies and knowledge
    • identify common elements and idiosyncrasies in the database
  2. To develop simple 'cheat sheets' which will help library staff and clients search frequently used databases.

    The Lens can be used to:
    • train new reference staff or provide refresher training on generic database searching skills and search strategies
    • produced a standardised 'cheat sheet' or summary reference list of key elements for any database which can be shared wit other stafff in the workplace.

The more databases you analyse using The Lens the more you develop your database searching strategies, skills and knowledge.

Using The Lens

Completing The Lens template takes about one hour, although the time will vary with the database being analysed.

The Lens template should be completed before putting together the cheat sheet.

The Lens template
Save The Lens template to your PC as a Word document, and complete the template offline. More Lens instructions.

Cheat sheet template
 Edit down the information in The Lens template to fit the cheat sheet template. More cheat sheet instructions.

The Lens Library

The Lens Library is the collection of cheat sheets contributed by NSW public libraries. When you have completed The Lens and the cheat sheet, email it as a Word attachment to NSW.net for loading to the Lens Library.

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