Ohlone College LRC — English 151B
Pathfinder
Instructor:
Rachel Sherman
Librarian:
Barbara Duggal
To Google or Not to Google? You
Have Research Options!
Ohlone
College Library Website: http://www.ohlone.edu/org/library
·
Search HANS to
find books, e-books, and other materials owned by the library
Ø
See http://www2.ohlone.edu/org/library/ebooks.html
for instructions on how to search for, and use, an e-book!
·
See Library Guides
link for other How to Search
tutorials!
Need a book from the
Subscription
Databases
Central Search: One Stop Shopping!
§
Pros & cons
to a Central Search:
o Searches all databases, selected websites, online
catalog at one time.
o Useful as discovery tool: introduction to sources you
may not know about
o But no finesse—uses same tool for every job—there
will be a percentage of false hits.
§
Basic Search
(searches title by default) or
Advanced Search options
§
“Clustered
Results” option offers returns in subject categories
§
“Results by
Source” identifies which databases yield most returns
From LRC homepage, select Search for Articles
link. Review subject areas as a
guide to help you find databases suitable for your topic (scroll down the page
for descriptions of each database).
General Search Tips:
§ If searching from home, enter your
§ Like Web search engines, each database will support a
different set of rules for searching. Always refer to the “Help” section for
specifics. Become efficient at two or three databases and you should see good
results.
§ A “subject” search will always retrieve more precise
results. If you find a good article, check to see the assigned Subject Headings (also called Descriptors), then combine those terms
to search for more articles. If not getting enough results, try a “keyword”
search.
§ Always look for ways in which the database will allow
you to save good search results as you go. Most offer correct citation formats
in various styles, and the option to email results to yourself and others.
§ ALWAYS save your citation information AS YOU COLLECT
YOUR SOURCES!!
Gale Virtual Reference Library
& Net Library: Like all
reference sources, these e-Reference books are good sources for general
overviews of topics from a variety of perspectives.
Academic Search Premier: Full-text or citations for
articles on academic or general interest topics. Published by EBSCOhost,
Sample
Search:
o Start with
a Basic Search. Enter, i.e., national
parks. Notice how many hits are
retrieved (too many). Review the Narrow
Results by Subject on the left-side toolbar. Notice the subject term National parks & reserves.
o Find &
click on Advanced Search tab. Enter the full term national parks & reserves in the top field. In the drop-down
menu to the right, click on SU Subject Terms. Enter
o Click on
the Full-Text box under Refine Search tab below. Click Search. Notice hits
retrieved (better!)
o Review
titles (click on Add to Folder to save good possibilities)
o Examine
subject headings of articles appropriate to your topic, combine those terms in new
searches
Country Watch: Offers geopolitical intelligence on 192 countries with a basic overview,
political, cultural, social, economic, investment and environmental information.
o Search
for, or select from drop-down menu, country of interest
o Notice the
Country Wire section for current news on the country
o Explore
links at left-hand tool bar
SIRS Knowledge Source: Includes full-text articles
on social issues and topics in the Arts and Humanities.
o If you
need ideas, click on the Topic Browse & Database Features tabs at top
o Search Tips: Start with a Quick Search, which
defaults to a Subject Headings search
o Enter the
term depression.
o Review
results. Select all Subject Headings appropriate to your topic. Click on View Checked Subjects box at bottom
o Click on
Websites button for authoritative sources from the WWW
o Check items and select
"Update Tagged List" as you scan results for potential sources
Environment Complete: One of the many individual
databases offered through EBSCOhost; same search interface as Academic Search
Premier, with some unique content. It’s worth searching for content that may
not be in ASP.
o Start with
a Basic Search. Enter, i.e., genetically modified foods, select any
appropriate limit under Refine Search, such as Full Text or Published Date
From
o Review the
Narrow Results by Subject on the
left-side toolbar. Notice the subject term Plant
genetic engineering. Click on it, notice that both terms have been combined
into a Boolean search (Advanced Search) yielding very precise results.
o Need
scholarly sources only? Click on Academic Journals button
WWW Website Directories Suitable for Academic Research!
§
Librarian’s Internet Index:
Websites You Can Trust: http://lii.org/
§
Internet Public Library: http://www.ipl.org/