Search Strategies

Before You Start

KeywordsThink of all Possibilities

Intercultural Ideas:

• Haiti, Haitian, Haitians

• Culture

• Customs

• Social life

• Other words, phrases related to what you would like to focus on.

Intergenerational Ideas

• Great Depression

• 1930s

• Greatest generation

• G.I. generation

• Dust bowl

• Other words, phrases related to what you would like to focus on.

Keywords (Search Words)

Use a thesaurus / subject guide

These can give you ideas for additional keywords or phrases.

Keywords (Search Words)

Talk to others (friends, family, instructors, librarians…)

Begin Searching

Use your keywords in different combinations.

Watch for more words and phrases that could be useful. (Often you stumble upon great words during

your search!

Search Tricks

• No matter where you search:

– Library Databases

– The Library Catalog

– The Internet

• Many of these “tricks” will apply.

Boolean Searching

AND = All results about traditions and holidays OR = Results on either traditions or holidays (not necessarily both)

Not = Results on traditions, but not if they mention holidays.

traditions holidays traditions holidays

traditions holidays

A sample search screen:

The article must include the phrase, “day of the dead”

Plus, it must include at least one of these words/phrases:mexico – mexican – “latin america”

But if recipes are mentioned, then those articles should not be included!

Phrases

• Are you looking for words appearing together?

– Put the words “in quotes” to find that exact phrase!

Look for Limiting Options

The Catalog…

Other library databases…

And even with web search engines like Google!

Truncation/Wildcard Symbols

Example: haiti*

• Haiti

• Haitian

• Haitians

Use symbols to search for various forms of a word. (Symbols may be different in different databases!)

Example: wom?n

• woman

• women

Limit your Fields

• Limit where you are searching if you need to narrow or increase your results.

Frustration?

ASK US!

Visit the library and speak to the librarian at the reference desk.

Make an appointment with a librarian.

Call or e-mail.