1. Searching Techniques, Databases, Catalog & Newspapers Frederic Murray, M.L.I.S. Instructional Services Librarian Al Harris Library SWOSU

2. Define: Catalog, Database, Indexes A comprehensive list of the books, periodicals, maps, and other materials in a given collection. A large, regularly updated file of digitized information related to a specific subject or field. An alphabetically arranged list of headings consisting of the personal names, places, and subjects treated in a specific work.

3. Search Techniques Keyword Basic Boolean

4. Keywords Flexible terms Easy searches Less accurate searches

5. Identifying Keywords Identify the significant terms and concepts that describe your topic from your thesis statement or research question. These terms will become the key for searching catalogs, indexes, and databases for information about your subject.

6. Other Keywords Identify the synonyms and antonyms to your keywords Use a thesaurus Use database tools like limiters and subjects

7. Keyword Phrases: Examples Death Penalty –Lethal injection –Gov. George Ryan –Cruel and unusual punishment –Amnesty International –Stanley (Tookie) Williams Government Bailout –Bear Stearns –Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac –Housing bill –Savings and loan crisis –Henry Paulson –Subprime mortgages

8. Class Exercise Keyword Building Exercise Topic: Vietnam War Thesaurus.com

9. Vietnam War Indochina Vietnam Southeast Asia AmericaLBJ France ChinaHo Chi Minh Kennedy

10. Boolean AND = Narrow OR = Expand NOT = Exclude

11. Databases A large, regularly updated file of digitized information related to a specific subject or field. This is where we find Journal Articles This is where most of your research will take place

12. Searching in Databases Keywords with Boolean Subject terms from thesaurus Limiters: date, peer reviewed, geography, and full text

13. Article Sources General Article and subject databases

14. Article Databases

16. Exercise ASC Database Worksheet

17. Why Use Newspaper Databases ? Search Cost

18. Newspaper Databases (before 1975 use a paper index) New York Times (1851–2004) LexisNexis Academic America’s Newspapers (Newsbank) Newspaper Source (EbscoHost) NEW TERM: RELEVANCY Ranking System Beginning with 100% decreasing to 0%

19. Newspaper databases

20. Exercise Newspaper Worksheet

21. SWOSU Catalog

22. Questions? Contact me: –Frederic Murray 744-7113 frederic.murray@swosu.edu

23. Thanks!