Text notes for HOWLER learning Unit: Performing Effective Searches
August 25, 2011 
Madison Area Technical College Libraries

Slide 1 - Title: Performing effective searches
Slide notes: Performing Effective Searches [image: HOWLER logo]

Slide 2 - Introduction Slide
Slide notes: Hi, I'm Donna, one of your Madison College Librarians. In this short HOWLER module, let's look at some ways to search effectively. As we get started, notice the handy navigation bar at the bottom of the screen which you can use to pause, rewind, or view closed captioning. [images: photo of Donna, library entrance, and Wolfie]  

Slide 3 - When?
Slide notes: Effective searching techniques can help you whether you are using library catalogs, library databases, or the internet. 
Effective searching techniques can help you whether you are using library catalogs, library databases, or the internet. [image: graphic of information icons]

Slide 4 - How?
Slide notes: In this unit, let's briefly explore some of the search strategies that can be helpful particularly when you are looking for specific information for a research assignment or paper.

Slide 5 - Why?
Slide notes: There are some common concepts that will help you: (1) Get better results and (2) Save Time.

Slide 6 - Keyword
Keyword searching allows you to enter any word or string of words. [image: screenshot of search library shelves keyword search box]

Slide 7 - Keyword or string
and most library catalogs, databases or search engines will search for all occurrences of the word(s)... [images: screenshots of keyword search results = 2 books with wolves in the title] 

Slide 8 - fields
... in citations, abstracts (short summaries of the text), and full text if available. [image: screenshot of 2 article citations for articles about wolves]

Slide 9 - Keyword search
However, the results might not always be exactly what you were expecting. [images: 3 citations for articles. one with author named wolf and 2 with wolves in the title, but not regarding wildlife wolves]

Slide 10 - less is more 
Also, keep in mind, that generally, the more words you enter, the fewer results are returned. So, you may want to start with a few relevant keywords, see what results you get, and then revise your search accordingly. Let's look at some other techniques that may be even more useful. [image: screenshot from library database Academic Search Complete with search box entry: wolves and population] 

Slide 11 - Subject
Subject searching uses a set of standard terms to describe books or articles. It is a more specific search than keyword searching. [image: subject search results from a library catalog search]

Slide 12 - Keyword and subject
Subject and Keyword search options are available in library catalogs and most library databases. [image: screenshots of 3 library databses search boxes] 

Slide 13 - Subject terms
Subject terms can also help you narrow or broaden a search, or find related terms. [image: screenshots of related terms for wolves-coyotes, dogs, werewolves,wolf hunting, red wolf; and subdivisions including analysis, behavior, care and treatment, etc] 

Slide 14 - Subject Headings
Cross References, Subject Headings, and Suggested Topics can lead you to other useful subject terms related to your topic. [image: subjects: wolves, united states, endangered species, etc; suggested topics: wolves and endangered species, wolves and yellowstone, etc. subject terms: wolf hunting, werewolves, etc]

Slide 15 - Subject catalog
You might start with a keyword search, look for these clues to appropriate subject terms, and then search again using a subject search. [image: screenshot of library catalog record for title The Wolves of Yellowstone with highlighted subject headings]

Slide 16 - Review question search strategies
Here's a quick review question: 
Which type of searching is the most specific and can be used in most library databases? 
Click the radio button of the correct answer. subject search, robotic search, or keyword search. 

Slide 17 - Boolean
Slide notes: Boolean searching uses the terms "AND", "OR", and "NOT" to modify a search

Slide 18 - AND
The term "AND" narrows a search and may often be the most useful. [image: diagram wolves AND wisconsin]

Slide 19 - Boolean AND example
For example, "wolves AND Wisconsin" tells the database to search for items that contain both of these words. This helps focus your search on materials relating only to wolves in Wisconsin. Some search engines assume the word "AND"  between terms. [image: map of wisconsin and screenshot of wolves and wisconsin search in EBSCO library database]

Slide 20 - Boolean OR search example
The term "Or" broadens a search. For example, the search "wolves OR Wisconsin" would look for all documents containing either one or both of those terms. Search results might include items about wolves in Texas or farming in Wisconsin. [image: diagram of wolves OR wisconsin; screenshot of JSTOR database search box entry wolves or wisconsin}

Slide 21 - Boolean NOT example
The term "NOT" excludes a word from a search and is used less frequently. So "wolves NOT Wisconsin would look for items containing the term "wolves" but not containing the term "Wisconsin". [image: diagram of wolves NOT wisconsin, andscreenshot of search entry wolves not wisconsin]

Slide 22 - Boolean Searching result comparison
Compare the number of results obtained by moving your mouse over these sample searches. [images: rollovers = wolves and wisconsin 37, wolves or wisconsin 51884, and wolves not wisconsin 3722]

Slide 23 - Review Boolean
Which of the following boolean operators tells the database it has to have both words in the document, so it helps make your search more focused? Click the radio button of the correct answer. not, or, and, focus.

Slide 24 - Limiters
Many databases, library catalogs, and search engines have limiters; options that can help you further modify your search. Examples of limiters include: full text availability, date, publication type and scholarly or peer-reviewed sources. [image: limiters in EBSCO including full text, scholarly, and date]

Slide 25 - Limiters screenshot
Your choice of limiters will vary depending on the database you are using.[image: limters by document type, publication type, and language screenshots]

Slide 26 - Review question limiters
Click the limiter in this database which will return only results that are available as full text.[image: screenshot of advanced search with full text limiter selection]

Slide 27 - Publication search
Publication search options can  be very useful, especially if you are looking for a particular newspaper, magazine or journal title. [image: publication search screenshot with details for New York Times]

Slide 28 - Publication issues
You can browse issues or search within a publication. To browse: click the issue you're interested in to review the list of articles included from that issue. Or search within the publication for a particular topic. [image: screenshot of dates for issues of New York Times]

Slide 29 - Question Publication
Slide notes: True/False. Publication searching in library databases can make it easier to find a specific back issue of a recommended journal. 

Slide 30 - Advanced search
Advanced Search options are actually often very easy to use and helpful. 

Slide 31 - advanced search 2
Databases, catalogs and search engines offer different advanced search options,... [image: Google advanced search options screenshot]

Slide 32 - jstor
... depending on the content included in the collection.[image: JSTOR browse by discipline screenshot]

Slide 33 - help links
Check the convenient help links to learn more.[image: search help icons from various library databases]

Slide 34 - Advanced  drop-down
An advanced search may offer convenient drop-down menus or limiters to help you focus your search... [ image: advanced search drop-down menu options screenshot]

Slide 35 - Advanced search example
or help you combine terms in a Boolean search.[image: newspaper database sample search wolfpack in Text AND wisconsin state journal in Source/Journal name]

Slide 36 - Phrase
Phrase searching ensures that when you put quotation marks around a phrase, the database will only return results containing that exact phrase. [image: citation information for article "educating the public about gray wolves" with "wolf restoration" as phrase]

Slide 37 - Phrase option
Phrase searching may even be listed as a search option. [image: Google advanced search phrase search option screenshot"

Slide 38 - Wildcard or Truncation
Wildcard or Truncation Searching uses symbols such as *, !, ? and $ to look for variant spellings of words. 

Slide 39 - Wildcar wol* example
Slide notes: Wildcards can be useful, but sometimes you might get some unexpected results. 
Wildcards can be useful, but sometimes you might get some unexpected results. [image: wolfberries, wolf, and wolfgang photos]

Slide 40 - Review question advanced search
True or False?: Advanced Search options are so difficult to use that only a librarian should try them. Click the radio button of the correct answer.

Slide 41 - Help
Remember you can check the Help section of a library catalog, database, or search engine to learn more about using that resource. If you have more questions or need research help, you can ask a librarian: In person at the library help desks; by phone at 608-246-6640; or by emai. From the library webpages- click on Research Help.[image: wolfie with book]

Slide 42 - Results
Slide notes: Quiz results

Slide 43 - Concluding slide
Slide notes: Thanks for completing this Madison Area Technical College Libraries HOWLER learning unit. {image: HOWLER logo}