Searching in a library catalog or database is quite different from using a search engine like Google. The information in our system is closed and controlled, so it relies on specific terms to stay organized and consistent. After starting with a broad term for your topic, look at the list of results and identify related terms and subject headings. Are any of those terms better than your original term? Could searching both of the terms help you to find more material on the topic? How can you add them all to a search for the best results?
Once you have an idea of the words available about a topic, combine them together with search operators to create a search string. This is an algebra-like sentence that tells the catalog or database exactly what you’re looking for. Boolean operators, or the words AND, OR, and NOT should be used to separate and combine your words into logical groupings. If you want all of your search terms to appear, use AND. If you aren’t sure which term is best and are open to your results having one, the other, or all of the terms, use OR to broaden the search results. FInally, if you definitely don’t want a particular term, use NOT to exclude it. Next, use characters like quotation marks (“ “) to keep phrases together, parentheses to group similar terms, or asterisks (*) at the end of root words to bring back different forms of the word. Here’s an example search string to try if you want to find research on elementary school mathematics teachers:
(elementary or “primary school”) AND math* AND teach* NOT (“high school” OR “secondary school”)
Want to learn more about searching and other expert tips from a librarian? Book a consultation with your Subject Librarian for in-depth research help!
Post contribution by Sara Evans
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