Research Guide on Laser Eye Surgery

LASER EYE SURGERY

A. An Overview:

This research guide is about my choosen topic, laser eye surgery also known as LASIK surgery. This is a surgical procedure using a high tech excimer laser to correct a persons vision and focus. The scope of my topic is the medical side of the procedure and the pros and cons of having laser eye surgery. The strong areas of this research guide explains the step-by-step medical procedures of LASIK surgery.


B. Library of Congress Subject Headings (Online) included:
Lasik
Eye surgery- Laser
Eye- Laser surgery
Eye-Laser Surgery-Popular works
Lasik (Eye surgery) Complications-Case Studies

C. Keywords: laser eye surgery, eye surgery, laser surgery, Lasik, vision correction

D. Reference Sources:

1) LASIK." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 31 July 2009 <http://voyager2.lbcc.edu:2062/eb/article-9471402>.
The Encyclopædia Britannica has very in depth articles on laser eye surgery and a very searchable website.

2) Research Book: Amy Sutton. Eye care sourcebook: basic consumer health Information about eye care and eye disorders. Detroit , Mich.2003.
This library eye care reference book is a very good source of information for eye care.

3) Google Dictionary
http://www.google/com/dictionary
This resource is easy to use and easy to reach by searching on the Google search site, Google dictionary.

E. Print Books:

1) Stephen, Richard and Dorothy. The complete book of laser eye surgery
Naperville , Ill. : Sourcebooks, c2000.
Alamitos Adult Non-fiction - 617.755 S631c
Long Beach Branch
As the title states, this is a complete book on eye surgery and is for readers searching for an overall explantation on laser eye surgery.

2) * Ernest, Robert and Jonathan. LASIK : a guide to laser vision correction
Omaha , Neb. : Addicus Books, c2006.
Mark Twain Adult Non-fiction 617.71905 K84L
Branch of Long Beach Library
This book gives a well rounded backgroung to answer anyones question concerning lasik eye surgery such as the risks and the positve asspects as well.

*In search of 20/20: everything you need to know about laser eye surgery
Arun Lakra, Howard V. Gimbel GES, 1997
ISBN
0968175600, 9780968175606
This book is an in-depth look at the pros and cons of several types of laser eye surgeries and written by professionals studied in eye surgery. A section for asking the doctor questions is also included.

F. Periodicals:

1) Archives of Ophthalmology. Chicago : Jun 2009. Vol. 127, Iss. 6;

This publication is relevant to my topic of Laser eye surgery because the journal is a Ophthalmology journal and is current ,scholar and written by Medical doctors in their field.
(To Find: Access Proqest journal advance search and search eye surgery-laser,
Also select medical Science Proquest Health and Medical Complete, last 12 months, scholarly journals, search databases.)

2) Medical Post. Toronto : Apr 1, 2003. Vol. 39, Iss. 13;
This medical journal is relevant to my topic because it is a medical journal and has articles which non medical field readers could find easier to read.

(To Find: Access Proqest journal advance search and search eye surgery-laser,
Also select medical Science Proquest Health and Medical Complete, last 12 months, scholarly journals, search databases.)

3) Investagative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., Dec 2001; 42: 3349 - 3356.
http://www.iovs.org.cvi/

This journal was found by Google scholar search. It is relevant to my topic because the publication is a medical ophthalmology journal, article are written by medical professional and it is current in date. Subscriptions are available.

All three journal have articles pertaining to my topic of lasik surgery.

G. Web Resources:

1) healthfinder.gov
healthfinder.gov, is a government Web site "where you will find information and tools to help you and those you care about stay healthy," health finder.
Sign on at http://www.heath/ finder.gov.

-This is a government website and very credible. It is a great website with current news on many other health issues. There is an search list from A to Z and many links within the site. By this web site covering medical issues and having recent documents on the topic of laser eye surgery, this makes this a great site to receive professional, current, and validated information.

2) MedlinePlus
URL: medlineplus.gov
/ http://www.nlm.nih.govmedineplus.html

-MedilinePlus, is a wonderful site to find any information on health issues and it comes from creditable sources. MedlinePlus states that it is the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Consumers and medical professionals will find that this is a medical web site they can find the information they are searching for and much more. This web site has an dictionary, medical encyclopedia and medical dictionary. They also have easy-to-understand tutorials, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and much more as staled on their web page. MedlinePlus is updated daily and can be bookmarked at the URL: medlineplus.gov."

Blog Reflection 5- MY FINAL REFLECTION FOR LIB 3

My distance learning started with a course in philosophy. This on line Lib3 course was not my first on line course. The on line format of this course, which included a weekly discussion forum and Blog reflection postings on the personal blog of each student, increased student interaction. It was interesting reading what other students posted, receiving replies to my posts and looking at our class blogs. The discussion board often helped put clarity on some of the course material.

My preference for on line classes has a lot to do with having more time to spend on the course without sitting in a classroom. I have not experienced a chat room, but I have heard from other students who have, that course chat rooms are a good place for students to assist each other with quick questions and to share course information.

From my experience, online classes vary as face- to- face classes do, in being easier or harder. I do feel on line classes always have plenty of course work to keep involvement with the class high. In my opinion, taking this library course on line seems the most appropriate vehicle. The other place setting for this course seems to be in the actual library. Being already on line to complete class research and send assignments was one of the reasons that helped make this 18 week course, condensed to 9 weeks, possible.

For this class to have a face-to-face open workshop sounds like a good idea. On a few occasions, as when I searched Proquest, I would have liked to have some of the assignment search methods demonstrated.

Good Bye LIB3 !! Many Good Times Researching Will Not Be Forgotten!!! I have learned so much and discovered many new and interesting things I will not forget!

Blog Reflection #4

Information competency is the ability to find, evaluate, use, and communicate information in all of its various formats < http://hcom.csumb.edu/infocomp/aboutic/index.html>. Information competency is very important to me because it means having the know how to locate important information when it is needed. I think an information competent student should know how to evaluate and use information productively, is aware of the many resources offered at our school libraries and other libraries and how to access/ find the right search vehicle for the research information needed.

The information I have received while taking this library course has certainly brought me closer to being an information competent student. Becoming familiar with the wealth of information available through the right search vehicles has improved my accessibility to information but also removes any pretence on my part of knowing all there is to know about how to access the vast amount of information on the internet and the WWW. Having the LBCC library website available and the many free search tool offered on the library site has been very instrumental in improving my information competence.

I will continue to improve to utilize the wonderful wealth of research tools and strive the match the vehicle to the information needed. I will continue to improve my evaluating skills and choose information that is relevant to my research needs. I feel I will be able to accomplish my research needs with much more competence. I will make a note to myself to recommend this class to fellow students and any one who has a wealth of information available while saving time and resources. After this class is over I will continue to use the correct search vehicle when ever I need to find information. The many search vehicles I have become aware of (like a thesaurus) which would be of big help right now.

Blog Reflection 3

New avenues of using reference sources continues to open doors to information I have not had access to. My opinion of the research process has been overwhelming enhanced in a positive way. Accessing resources has a better way. New way and avenues of accessing resources, databases and all other sources of information will enhance the quality of my future informational searches.

In the past, Yahoo would have been my typical search engine. When first becoming familiar with my own private internet service and first online courses, my internet provider, MSN provide an entire page of search engines which would in turn search the information simultaneously. This has since changed since becoming aware of LBCC’s library website and all the search options available I feel better equipped to complete research papers, homework, and assignments and find information, books, facts and all other offering on the internet. I will evaluate online information and find the right resources before starting my next research paper.

Blog Reflection #2 Information Competency

The information that has become available to me by enrolling in this library course has been spectacular. Searching data bases and using different search directories have certainly allowed me to become better informed. The scholar and scientific searches have impressed me with the amount of highly educated and scholar resources there are on the internet for accessing. I feel libraries are a vital necessity for accessing information and searches, eBooks and journals are very beneficial especially the speed that some databases can be searched and accessed.

Libraries offer much more than books and journals. Most resource materials can only be found and obtained through the library’s reference books. Visiting the library also renews interest in reading by showcasing books on floor displays and stacks. Libraries offer many books, journals, and DVD rentals at no or low cost. On-line journals, newspapers and eBooks sometimes require subscriptions. Also have live reference librarians to guide us to other search options we might not have I might have considered is also a helpful benefit of the physical library.

The internet plays a significance role in my life because of its many uses. Taking an online course, using e-mail, up to date news and informational searches are a few ways the internet’s daily usage in my life. It is a time saver and an incredibly great resource.

Reflection Assignment 1: Course Reflection

Taking this library course has increased and refreshed my appreciation for the many benefits of the public library system along with the campus library as well. Learning to access the library website and to do productive searches will be a major advantage at furthering my educational goals.

The course textbook has been very clear and precise in explaining the thesis selection process. Also, the textbook information on internet databases and electronic sources has been very helpful.

The discussion forum is a fairly new course participation forum for me, while helping to balance my grasp of course materials and ideas with instructor’s and classmates’ viewpoints.
This library course has been great exposing me to other database search engines such as NexusLexus.

I AH-ed when I realized that numerous search engines use different search formats for accurate and precise searches.

Long Beach Public Library- Main Library

LONG BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY
Main Library

The Main Library of Long Beach California is located at 101 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach CA 90822. The Library telephone number is (562)570-7500. The Long beach Public Library web site is http://lbpl.org/.

The Main Library is located next to the Long Beach Civic Center which gives this library a feel of serving the community by being involved in the heart of the city’s rules and regulations center. The Long beach Public Library is a depository library for documents from the State of California and the Federal Government. The collection includes U.S Code, CFR, West Annotated CA Code, and Barclay’s Official CAS Code of Regulations. Many of these documents and topics can be borrowed. The Main library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification.

Parking for the Main Library is available in the Civic Center parking structure located on Broadway and Chestnut Ave. There is thirty minutes of free parking and the next ninety minutes are $1.25 when validated at the library Checkout. The Main Library is also conveniently located next to the Convention Center, the Long Beach Transit Mall, while the Blue Line Metro can be quickly taken across the street at First and Pacific. A mention of the newly constructed Pike entertainment center, Long Beach Convention center and Shoreline Villain’s eateries all accessible off Ocean Avenue are features which add to the location of the downtown Main Library.

Construction for this 135,000 square library was first started in 1973 and the new library opened in 1976. Long Beach started their very first Main Library on Jan 1, 1896 and all of it consisted of one room which was connected to the city council office. The second move of the main library in 1899 was next to the new offices of City Hall which were located next to Pacific Park. In 1909 a new main library was opened and constructed with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. The park location was later rededicated as Lincoln Park with a 21 gun salute from the USS Saratoga as written on the Long Beach public Library website http://lbpl.org/. The main library which stands on Lincoln Park now replaced this library which served well as Long Beach’s Main Library for over sixty years. The City Hall and current Main Library were completed in 1976. The new library was a much needed replacement due to a fire in 1970 and the need to shelve and showcase its ever growing resources.

Reference Section in the Main Library has a lot of information for many different topics and subjects topics. They are subject categorized and the library also has an online data reference center. It is twenty four hours a day and seven days a week and available to all with a Long Beach Public Library card. They provide a wide arrange of websites and even have it that if you are having trouble you can email or instant message an online librarian to help on your search.
To accommodate its visitors, the library has many sitting area. One can choose to be seated in a secluded area or sit in the open as while reading at the large wood periodicals reading tables. This is one of the enjoyable things about this well lit library. They also have current listing County phone books that cover just about all of the United States. The checkout is easy and there are restrooms inside the library. The reference librarian and library staff are very knowledgeable and quick to assist.

Young Readers:
The Main Library has a large collection of reading material for children and youth. This library within a library has its own reference librarian, a colorful reading area, and the book selection is well organized and cataloged. Books can be ordered from other branches or put on hold. The age level of reading is highly classified which helps young readers advance from one level of reading to the next level with ease. Summer reading programs have included incentives such as a free In & Out Lunch Meal, for grade school readers that have completed the Main Library reading requirements.

Equipment/ Technology within the Main Library include:

• Computers with Internet access, Microsoft Office 2003, various databases, and the online catalog. The time allowed for computer use is sixty minutes per day with a current library card and is on a first come basis




• Wireless Internet Access for laptops is provided throughout the library, for free, with a valid library card.




• AskNow! Help from a librarian 24/7 is available by accessing the free online chat service. Email and telephone reference is also available.




• Printers, photocopiers and self serve typewriter: There are printers and photocopiers available to the public. The price of a black and white copy is $0.15 per page and color copies are $0.50 per page. The use of the typewriter is free of charge.
  

Programs of interest offered at the Main Library:

• The Family Learning Center: This is a homework assistance center for homework help for students in grade k-8. The intent is to help students with all aspects of home assignments, including computer help. The goal of the library homework help staff is to engage the parents of their children with benefiting for the library.
  




• Other Events: Free computer classes can be found on the Events Calendar. Events included are but not limited to: Story time for Toddlers, Brown Bag Book Club and the summer free movies showings.
  

The second level of the Main Library is assessed by a wide stairway or elevator to the 2 floor ground level which houses Long Beach’s History Collection, it can also be found on the on the Long Beach History Collection web page. Also on the lower level of the Main Library is the tasteful art reference center. Ms. Loraine Miller Collins made this handsome gift in memory of her late husband, Earl Burns Miller, and it opened in 1978, three years after the opening of the new Main library. The hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.

Several special reference collections are housed in the Miller Room:


The Miller Fine Arts Collection: Emphasizing Oriental art which includes beautifully illustrated works on Chinese paintings, Japanese prints, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, Korean and Oriental rugs, sculpture and crafts. A wide variety of books included American and European artists and books on art history, architecture, and photography.

The Bertrand Smith Sr. Collection: The library was presented these pre 15Th century texts by Bertrand Smith Sr., founder of Acres of Books bookstore in Long Beach. Of note is a two-volume facsimile of the Gutenberg Bible, editions by 19Th century American authors and rare European texts.

The Marilyn Horne Archives: Well presented in the Miller Room is a collection of photographs, magazines, books, programs, recordings, interviews and personal letters chronicling the life and operatic career of former Long Beach resident Marilyn Horne.

Hello World!

This was my first blog creation and it was pretty easy and fun to do. I have read a few blogs over time but I never really considered making my own. After creating this one it has been a very great experience and I would definitely make another one after this class ends.