Search Tips

Database Search Tips

Top Tips for Online Database Searching

By Ann Grilliot & Pam Lamberger

Did you know that HEPL has a large collection of free online databases available 24-7? Here are some helpful hints to improve your search: 1. Decide to use a Basic Search (the default) or select an Advanced Search, which gives you options for a more specific search using the drop-down selection of indexes (Title, Author, Subject) and operators (AND, OR, NOT). · AND: Use between search terms to see results containing all the terms (narrower) · OR: Use between search terms to see one, some, or all the terms (broader) · NOT: Use before a term you wish to exclude from your results (narrower) · Use quotation marks, “full knee replacement,” to enclose a set of words for results that contain that series of words in the given order. 2. Decide to use a Keyword vs. Subject Search. Use common language to search for Keywords within a title, abstract, or body of work. To increase your chance for success, enclose alternate words for the same topic between parentheses to search for results with any or all of them (AIDS or HIV), (television or movies or motion pictures). You can use a keyword search to find a subject heading within the bibliographic record of a resulting record. For a Subject search, use Library of Congress controlled vocabulary, which must be exact. 3. No need to include Stop Words in your search since search engines frequently ignore them. Common stop words: a, an, as, at, in, is, on, the, that, they, which. 4. Broaden your search using a more general term if you come up empty with your initial search or Narrow your search by adding more description if you get too many hits. 5. Check your Spelling or Typing. 6. Consider sorting your results using the Sort By drop-down tool to arrange by date, relevance, or other criteria. 7. Choose Full Text if given an option, so you get the complete article, not just the brief citation. You can usually choose your format: HTML or PDF of the original. 8. Most databases have a Cite Tool that will tell you how to cite the article for your bibliography using the preferred Style Guide: APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian. 9. View specific Search Tips under the Help Feature of the database you are searching, since not all databases operate the same. Many of HEPL’s databases are offered by Gale. Here is a link to Gale Search Tips: https://go-gale-com.hepl.idm. oclc.org/ps/start.do?p=OVIC&u=npl_main. 10. And of course, ask a librarian if you have questions.