1. Power Searching 501 (?): a crash course The stuff you need to know about searching, but may have forgotten along the way! (And, the stuff I want you to know before you go off to college!)

2. But we’ve heard this all before, Mrs. V!

3. Sorry. This important review won’t hurt too much! I promise!!!! And it will help you in college and beyond!

5. Let us begin! Yeah! Okay. We love databases and searching!

6. And I love your enthusiasm for searching and databases! You make me proud!

7. Our review begins!

8. Review question #1: What is the difference between free Web search tools and subscription databases?

9. Hmmmm

10. Free Web Search Tools

11. Subscription or Proprietary Search Tools

12. Review question #2: How can you choose the right search tools for you information task?

13. Choose the right database for your information need!

14. Choose the right search engine for your information need! Choosing the Best Search Tool (Debbie Abilock) http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literaci es/information/5locate/adviceengine.html http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literaci es/information/5locate/adviceengine.html Getting Started: Selecting a Tool for your Search http://library.albany.edu/internet/started.ht ml

15. Even Google has choices: Google Print - Search the full text of booksGoogle Print Google Scholar - Search scholarly papersGoogle Scholar Google Directory for a subject approachGoogle Directory Google Images

16. Review question # 3: And when you are in the search engine or database, did you know you have a major searching interface choice?

17. Simple vs. Advanced It’s about power!

18. Why go beyond the simple search screen?

19. Simple Screen Click here for more precision and power!

20. Advanced screen

21. Simple screen in a database

22. Advanced screen in a database

23. And within your database, you will often have to make another choice!

24. Another decision: Subject / Topic Keyword Full text

25. This is an important choice!

26. Review question #4 What is the difference? Subject / topic Keyword Full text When might you use each?

28. Use the language and structure of the database to gather relevant material! Subject headings or descriptors in databases

29. In some databases this choice is critical!

30. More about subject headings and database structure!

31. Databases have information hierarchies

32. Subject structure behind the database

33. Descriptors may look different

34. Some search engines also offer subject / topic cues or clusters

35. You can open these categories!

36. Search engine clusters help you find relevant documents and suggest search terms

38. STOP the insanity! Stop using stop words in your searches! in, of, the, a, to you, why, who, what, on, than, then, their, an, his, her, be

39. Using stop or noise words instead of a Boolean operator List of English “stop words”

40. Review question # 5 What are Boolean operators?

41. Rockwell Schrock’s Boolean Machine http://kathyschrock.net/rbs3k/boolean

42. Google doesn’t care, but your database does! Google ignores stop words and assumes an AND between words.

43. How important AND is!!!

44. Using the operator “AND” gets more results!

45. When to use “+” in Google

46. When do you really need OR? OR is generally used for synonyms or related words.

47. OR in Google

48. NOT as a refinement technique for problem words eagles NOT Philadelphia “Martin Luther” NOT King

49. Using “not” in Google

50. Boolean operators in databases

55. “Phrase searching” One of your best searching tools! Use only for legitimate phrases, names, titles Best example -- “vitamin A” “John Quincy Adams” Titles “An Officer and a Gentleman” “to be or not to be” Phrase searching is sometimes overused: not every group of words is a phrase Sometimes “ANDing” is a better strategy

56. Time for parentheses?

59. Wildcards and stemming Google stems, it returns varies forms of words Many databases do not stem. Use an asterisk for various word forms adolesc* child* teen*

60. Using wildcards in databases

61. A question is not a query How many buffalo remain in the United States? Can you create an effective “two word” search? From David Barr, formerly of IMSA

62. How to structure a good query Brainstorm several key words and phrases—the ones you think would appear and wouldn’t appear in your dream document Anticipate synonyms and related words Mine your results!: be on the look out for better words and phrases as you search

63. More on the query Focus on nouns (verbs are often vague, stop words, like articles—a, an, the—are ignored by most engines) Include most important words and phrases first.

64. And just a few more little tricks!

65. http://elibrary.bigch alk.com/libweb/curri culum/do/search Search / filter by media type (Also phrase searching Searching by media type and using phrases

66. Don’t forget the tabs across the top of the page!

67. Sorting results

68. Find command helpful for lots of text, or search results

69. More like this, related sites...

70. Searching within a large site

71. And finally, as you search, consider... What types of sources does your instructor want you to cite: Primary sources? Scholarly sources? Popular sources? Trade journals?

72. Consider what type of source is contained on that printout? Popular? Trade? Scholarly? Primary source? http://mciu.org/~spjvweb/scholarly.html

73. Scholarly words Refereed Peer reviewed Scholarly

74. Filter for scholarly and for full text

76. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_bombing When to use Wikipedia and other wiki sources

79. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_fried_Mars_Bar

80. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_progra mming_language

81. A very powerful dictionary source!

82. Help screens can help

83. Online, offline School, academic, public Librarians can really help!

84. Habits of mind apply to research Tolerating, embracing ambiguity Using resources wisely Seeking accuracy Seeking clarity Evaluating the effectiveness of your own actions Planning Being responsive to feedback Being open-minded Engaging intensely

85. Any questions?