An+Introduction+to+the+BA+Library+Pathfinder

Hello Grade 10!

Have you met with your mentor for your Personal Project (PP) yet? Have you started charting the routes to take in completing your Personal Project? Are you stumped this early you don't know where to begin? Or you have drafted a plan and you're very confident you can follow through it. Wherever you are on the PP, the Beacon Academy Library has set up a mechanism to aid you in your journey of accomplishing your PP on time.

The Beacon Academy Library Pathfinder.

__What is a Pathfinder?__ A **Pathfinder** serves as a resource and guide for the researcher to find his/her specific information on a topic (Vandergift, 1995). It provides basic resources to help the researcher start off on the course of his/her research. It offers the researcher options and choices on the steps he/she will take in the next stage of research. It lends opportunity to plan research strategies and eliminate dead ends.

__How is information organized in a Pathfinder?__ A **Pathfinder** contains a list of information sources -- subjects and topics, specialized sources ranging from primary to secondary sources in a variety of formats (print, online and audiovisual), databases and websites, bibliographies, agencies and institutions where information can be collected such as local and academic libraries.

In this case, the subjects found in the Beacon Academy Library Pathfinder are topic proposal in the Personal Project. Each subject or topic has a list of recommended information sources.

Note that pathfinders are dynamic. It responds to the changing needs of researchers and the constant development of information resources, media and technology. Therefore, the resources in each pathfinder will change as the student work on in his/her research.

A Pathfinder can be structured following this outline:

I. Introduction and Background II. Specific Task III. Resources in BA Library IV. Information Resources Related to the Subject V. Search Aids

__How is a Pathfinder used?__ @A Pathfinder Subject Index is prepared. Links to websites are provided. Locator marks and call numbers are included. All you need to do is to note these down and use them.

For feedback and comments, send them to librarian@beaconaacdemy.ph.