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Introduction to Library Resources SP 211 Prof Saindon Summer 2020: Database Search Tips

Useful tips for searching in the library databases

  • Surround the name of he person you choose to research in quotation marks.  The same holds true for phrases. (i.e.  "Shirley Chisholm") or ("gun control")
  • Limit to Default, All Text, Title, or Subject Term from the search fields.
    • Using the Subject Terms will help you to find more relevant results.
    • Searching in All Text will retrieve more articles, but probably more of them will be irrelevant.
    • Searching in the Title will bring you fewer documents, but they're more likely to be relevant.
  • Consider synonyms or words that mean the same thing when applicable (i.e. teenager, adolescent or "young adult")
  • Use a  (And/Or) to narrow and expand your search. Begin with a broad search then narrow your search by combining subject terms with keyword searching.