Library Assist: Answers

This advice is generic and can be applied to any Library database. Like our own LibrarySearch catalogue, most databases offer simple/basic and advanced search options.

• Whenever you search, you need to identify the keywords that you want to search for, i.e. don't just paste in your assignment question.

• Using a simple/basic search, the results page should give you a list of filters, allowing you to narrow down the results - e.g. to limit results to a particular date range, or journal title.

• If there is a filter for "full text only", this should be selected if you need full articles right away, as it will filter out results which don't allow you to read the whole article.

• Advanced search will allow you to be more precise, and set combinations of keywords, using the AND, OR, and NOT boolean operators. e.g. you may want to search for "Teenagers AND youths", or "Hockey NOT ice".

• Every subject database will have a different look and feel, but the options under Advanced Search should be similar. For example, the image below shows an Ebsco database with multiple boxes to type keywords in - so you can separate different concepts of your search - and combine them with the AND, OR, NOT options.

• If you need help using a specific source please contact the Library and we will be happy to advise.