1. Academic Information Service
African Healthline
opening
Academic Information Service

2. What you need to start On campus: Off campus:
Library registration (at library counter)
Network registration (at library counter)
Ask for training sessions if you still feel uncomfortable searching African Healthline
Off campus:
Library registration

3. Background
The premier collection of bibliographic databases on African health issues
Unique collection of sources including many from Africa and covering all aspects of African health issues.
Covering years since 1966
Quarterly updates
More than records

4. Down to search basics Boolean operators Truncation symbols
Searching words next to each other

5. BOOLEAN LOGIC AND / OR / NOT
AIDS
Education
Programmes
BOOELIAN LOGIC or

6. BOOLEAN LOGIC
AND
Education
Programmes
AIDS
AND
AND

7. BOOLEAN LOGIC
NOT
Not
Education
Programmes
AIDS
NOT

8. Truncation symbols
Use the * after the ROOT of the word to pick up different forms of the word
Eg:
Program*
To include:
Programming
Programmer
Programs

9. Searching words next to each other
Adjacent (adj)
Eg: AIDS adj education adj programs

10. Select database

11. Click on “Change Search Display Level”
Display search level
Click on “Change Search Display Level”
Choose database

12. Change search and display level
Select “split screen” and “advanced search mode”

13. Searching words in title
Example demo search: (AIDS or Acquired adj Immunodeficiency adj Syndrome) and (Education* adj Program*)
Click on “search”
Type in search terms using Boolean logic and truncation

14. Search results
Use blue bar to adjust frame size up and down to view results

15. Select output for e-mail, save or print
Use dropdown menu to select output
Mark records individually or click button before or printing

16. Display format for browsing references
Use dropdown menu to select format

17. Formulate and submit a search strategy
Keyword search/phrases field scans the most commonly queried fields
To browse index of keywords/phrases search field, click on “index” located in the command menu.
Insert index entries or type them directly into the search field

18. Type in search term and click on “index”
Search an index
Type in search term and click on “index”

19. terms and click on search
View index
Mark relevant
terms and click on search

20. Adjust blue bar to view results below
Will appear instantaneously in the results screen below
Adjust blue bar to view results below

21. Select display/output format
Mapping term
Use dropdown menu to select and display

22. Mark your preferences for display and output format
Mark records before printing or or click on mark all at bottom of page

23. FEEL WELCOME TO ASK FOR HELP
Good luck!
Created by Myleen Oosthuizen and Anneline vd Gryp
February 2004