Searching for Searching for Information and Information and Library DatabasesLibrary Databases

Knowing…Knowing…

WhenWhen

WhereWhere

How to find information isn’t easyHow to find information isn’t easy

Important to Important to understandunderstand

How the time of an event can determine what How the time of an event can determine what has been published and where.has been published and where.

The difference between searching a web The difference between searching a web search engine and searching a library search engine and searching a library database.database.

Strategies for constructing an effective Strategies for constructing an effective search in a library database.search in a library database.

The Information Time The Information Time LineLine

Web Search EnginesWeb Search Engines

Excellent source for finding information like Excellent source for finding information like Current newsCurrent news Government statisticsGovernment statistics Company Annual ReportsCompany Annual Reports Consumer Health InformationConsumer Health Information Etc.Etc.

Web Search Engines Web Search Engines ContinuedContinued

Also good tools for finding primary source Also good tools for finding primary source materials that libraries and archives have materials that libraries and archives have digitized and made available on the Web.digitized and made available on the Web.

Example: UNC’s Documenting the American Example: UNC’s Documenting the American South.South. Searchable through Google, DocSouth includes Searchable through Google, DocSouth includes

letters, diaries, slave narratives, war letters, diaries, slave narratives, war propaganda posters, and much more, offering propaganda posters, and much more, offering Southern perspectives on American history, Southern perspectives on American history, literature, and culture.literature, and culture.

Library DatabasesLibrary Databases

Search engines retrieve vast quantities of Search engines retrieve vast quantities of information.information. But even greater amount of data not found via But even greater amount of data not found via

search engines.search engines.

Online catalogs, web-based databases, and Online catalogs, web-based databases, and print and online indexes.print and online indexes.

provide access to information found in scholarly provide access to information found in scholarly journal articles, books, country and industry journal articles, books, country and industry reports, news backfiles, and much more.reports, news backfiles, and much more.

Library Databases Library Databases ContinuedContinued

EbscoHost's Academic Search Premier, Lexis/Nexis EbscoHost's Academic Search Premier, Lexis/Nexis Academic, and ProQuest's New York Times HistoricalAcademic, and ProQuest's New York Times Historical

provide the full text of journal and newspaper articlesprovide the full text of journal and newspaper articles

electronic access to an increasing number of full-text electronic access to an increasing number of full-text books and articles, library catalogs, databases, and books and articles, library catalogs, databases, and indexes also provide access to the vast amount of indexes also provide access to the vast amount of information that is still available only in print.information that is still available only in print.

Web still holds only a fraction of the world's published Web still holds only a fraction of the world's published information. information. The overwhelming majority is still held in libraries and The overwhelming majority is still held in libraries and

archives around the world.archives around the world.

Selecting Search TermsSelecting Search Terms

Think about the terms and phrases that Think about the terms and phrases that describe your topic.describe your topic. Example: economic impact of AIDS in South Example: economic impact of AIDS in South

AfricaAfrica Now think about whether there are other terms Now think about whether there are other terms

that could also describe your topic, including:that could also describe your topic, including: SynonymsSynonyms Related termsRelated terms Or words or phrases that have similar meaning.Or words or phrases that have similar meaning.

Connecting KeywordsConnecting Keywords

In search engines In search engines You can simply enter your keywords and phrases You can simply enter your keywords and phrases

and let the search engine do the work.and let the search engine do the work.

In DatabasesIn Databases You may use Boolean Operators.You may use Boolean Operators.

Boolean OperatorsBoolean Operators

Used to broaden or narrow searchesUsed to broaden or narrow searches And: used to narrow search and find where keywords And: used to narrow search and find where keywords

intersect.intersect.

Aids and South AfricaAids and South Africa

Or: Used to broaden search. Good to use when Or: Used to broaden search. Good to use when multiple keywords can be used to describe topic.multiple keywords can be used to describe topic. Aids OR Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.Aids OR Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Connecting Keywords Connecting Keywords continuedcontinued

Boolean Operators use in databasesBoolean Operators use in databases (aids OR hiv OR Acquired Immune Deficiency (aids OR hiv OR Acquired Immune Deficiency

Syndrome) AND south africa Syndrome) AND south africa Most databases allow for Boolean use in “Basic” Most databases allow for Boolean use in “Basic”

search and in advance search pages.search and in advance search pages.

Some databases have more than one seach box Some databases have more than one seach box that are connected by Boolean operators (AND that are connected by Boolean operators (AND and OR). This can make constructing your and OR). This can make constructing your search easier as you don't have to set up the search easier as you don't have to set up the entire "equation" on one line, which eliminates entire "equation" on one line, which eliminates the need for parentheses.the need for parentheses.

Truncation and Truncation and WildcardsWildcards

Maybe used to broaden a search.Maybe used to broaden a search. Especially if you’re having a hard time getting resultsEspecially if you’re having a hard time getting results Usually take the form of:Usually take the form of:

?!$*?!$*

Truncation example:Truncation example: comput* searches for computer, computers, computing, computation, etc.comput* searches for computer, computers, computing, computation, etc.

Wildcard example:Wildcard example: wom?n searches for woman, women, and womyn. Each question mark replaces wom?n searches for woman, women, and womyn. Each question mark replaces

exactly one letter.exactly one letter. w??k will return records with any term that begins with w and ends with k with two w??k will return records with any term that begins with w and ends with k with two

characters in between, such as work, week, walk.characters in between, such as work, week, walk.

Can produce unintended results. Can produce unintended results. Truncating a word like cat* retrieves cat, cats, cattle, catalog, catastrophic, and so on. Truncating a word like cat* retrieves cat, cats, cattle, catalog, catastrophic, and so on.

You might want to start your search without truncation or wildcards and only later decide to use them.You might want to start your search without truncation or wildcards and only later decide to use them.

What Database should I What Database should I Use?Use?

E-Resources ToolsE-Resources Tools Library databases and indexes are the best Library databases and indexes are the best

tools to use to find articles on a specific topic. tools to use to find articles on a specific topic. The UNC-Chapel Hill libraries offer an extensive The UNC-Chapel Hill libraries offer an extensive list of databases and indexes on a wide range list of databases and indexes on a wide range of subjects. On the library's homepage, click on of subjects. On the library's homepage, click on the link entitled E-Research Tools.the link entitled E-Research Tools.

What Database Should I What Database Should I Use?Use?

On the E-Research Tools page, there are several easy ways to get to On the E-Research Tools page, there are several easy ways to get to a specific database. If you know the name of the database you'd like a specific database. If you know the name of the database you'd like to access, you can use the alphabetical list to go directly to it. You to access, you can use the alphabetical list to go directly to it. You can also browse recommended databases within a subject by can also browse recommended databases within a subject by clicking on any of the subject links. You can also find a short list of clicking on any of the subject links. You can also find a short list of "Frequently Used" databases on the right side of the page. "Frequently Used" databases on the right side of the page.

Not sure where to start? Ask a librarian.Not sure where to start? Ask a librarian.

Accessing Article TextAccessing Article Text

Accessing Article TextAccessing Article Text

When the full text of the article is not available in the database or When the full text of the article is not available in the database or index you are searching, you may see the following icon:index you are searching, you may see the following icon:

When you see this icon, you can click to see if the UNC-Chapel Hill When you see this icon, you can click to see if the UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries have the full text of the article through another database or Libraries have the full text of the article through another database or subscription.subscription.

Finding JournalsFinding Journals