Frequently Asked Questions

How do I search in the library databases?

There are some basic things you can do to search in the library databases.

• If you are struggling, ask us!
• If we aren't around:
  • Use keywords to search, not sentences. To figure out which words to start with, break your concept down to the main ideas
  • Start with fewer broad terms and add more to narrow your results down
  • Use parentheses to group terms e.g., (peanut butter OR jelly), and boolean terms (focus on "AND" and "OR") to make your search more effective:
    
    Image credit: Slippery Rock University

Need more help? The videos and links below can help you get started.

Searching in Ebscohost Databases. You can watch this video on doing advanced searching in Ebscohost Databases.