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VSU 1101 Library research guide
Boolean Operators
Boolean operators(or "connectors") allow a database search to be narrowed, broadened or made more precise. In Boolean searching, sets are created by inserting an operator between search terms. There are three Boolean operators:AND,OR, andNOT.
A short description of each operator is given below. In the diagrams below, the shaded areas represent those records which would be returned.
AND
The AND operator is used fornarrowing or focusing a search topic.
And specifies thatbothtermsmust be present on a record for it to be retrieved. Because of this, you will get fewer search results when using AND, but you will get more focused results.
Example:teenagers AND violence.
OR
The operator OR is used forexpanding or broadening a search topic.By using the OR operator, the computer retrieves records that containany of the connected terms.
OR is oftenused to include synonyms or related terms.
Example:teenagers OR juveniles.
NOT
The NOT operator is used toeliminate false hits, or get rid of that one term that you don't want in your results list.
By usingNOT, the computer will retrieve records that contain the first term BUT NOT the second.
Example:teenagers not violence.
Finding Books in Odum Library
GIL-Find is an easy-to-use interface for VSU’s online catalog. Materials within the catalog include books, videos, musical scores, government documents, and print journals. GIL-Find is available online and no password is needed to search Odum Library’s catalog.
Accessing GIL-Find
A simple search option is available from Odum Library’s Homepage.
under the Books tab. Select the Classic GIL@VSU Catalog option (located under the Search box) if you would like to conduct a search using the classic catalog interface.
Basic Search
Quick Search provides limited options for searching (Keywords, Author, Title, Subject Heading, Call Number, and ISBN/ISSN). It works best with simple one or two word searches involving unusual terms. If you were searching for books written by Kurt Vonnegut, type in the author’s name vonnegut and hit enter.
The Quick Search option should be used only for basic searches. If you need to conduct a more specific or narrowed search, use the advanced search options like Boolean operators, wildcard and phrase searching. To access these other search options, click theGIL-Find@VSU Library Cataloglink, then choose Advanced Search.
Advanced Search
GIL-Find provides advanced search options to help you search for specific items.
For advanced searches:
- Use quotation marks to search forphrases.
- Example -"College Freshmen"
- Use an * for wildcard searches.
- Example - Place the * at the root of the word: teach* will return teach, teacher, teachers, teaching, etc.
- AND, OR and NOT can be used for combining termsknown as boolean logic.example: ((biomedical AND engineering) NOT nuclear).
- Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) must be ALL CAPS.
Search Examples:
A search for college frshmen and writing would be written:
"College Freshmen" AND writ*
Left click on the Find button.
- Click a titleto view that item's record.
Exact Search
If you know the exact title of a book, journal, or video you are searching for in the GIL-Find catalog, you can select to only search in that Field.
Similarly, you can search by field for a specific:
- Title,
- Title or Subject,
- Journal Title,
- Author,
- Subject,
- Call Number
- Sudoc Number (Government Documents)
- ISBN/ISSN, or
- Tag (user provided).
So, for example, we can search for College and University Journal, by typing in the name of the journal and selectingJournal Titlefrom the Fields drop-down menu.
Then you can evaluate your results:
If you want to view more details about one of these records, click on the Title.
Searching Databases
Databases give us an efficient way to search through thousands of publications. Databases contain the abstracts and/or the full-text of articles, many of which are not freely available on the internet. Most databases are available only via paid subscription. Odum Library has access to hundreds of general purpose and subject specific databases.
To find articles on your subject:
- From the Odum Library Homepage, click on the Articles tab
- Click on the drop-down menu under Articles & Databases by Subject to see the full list of subjects
- Click on a subject and you will get a listing of relevant databases.
Recommended Interdisciplinary Databases
- Academic Search Complete
- Research Library
If you want to use a specific database but don’t know where to find it:
- From the Odum Library Homepage, click on the Articles tab
- Click on the blue GALILEO button
- On the GAILEO Scholar page, click on the yellow tab labeled Databases A-Z. This page will give you an alphabetic list of databases.
Useful Subjects:
- College Student Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Library Research - United States
- Procrastination - Prevention - Handbooks, manuals, etc.
- Reading (Higher Education)
- Stress Management
- Study Skills
- Test-taking skills
- Time Management
- Note-taking
- Writing
Find Journals Available in Print or Full-Text Online (Journals tab)
Use the Journals tab to determine if a particular journal is available full-text online or in print, and learn what years, volumes, and issues are available.
- From the Library Homepage select the Journals tab.
- Enter the title of the journal and click the arrow. The top search box will search for the electronic version of the journal, and the bottom search box will search for the print journal that is physically on the shelf in the library.
Useful Links
How College is Different From High School
Commonly Held Unrealistic Student Expectations