So you want to find some scholarly articles, and your professor said you can't use Google, you have to use the library. So how do you find anything in a library? Most people want to treat a database like it's Google. After all, Google and its sophisticated algorithms have programmed us to ask whatever question we want and expect a somewhat usable answer. Using library resources like databases and One Search requires more intelligence and a specific set of skills.
- Keywords and "keyword phrases" - words that contain the essence of what you want in your search, typically nouns
- If you place phrases - more than one word that you want together in order - in quotation marks, the system will keep them together when searching (tip: this works with search engines like Google, too!)
- Example: "seven deadly sins" and sculpture instead of What about sculptures depicting the seven deadly sins?
- Example: "early modern" and architecture or sculpture instead of What are some buildings and sculptures from the Renaissance?
- Example: "Frank Lloyd Wright" and "organic architecture" instead of Why did Frank Lloyd Wright develop organic architecture?
- and - when used in searching it make sure all words are included in the search results (narrows your results because there are more requirements)
- Example: sculpture and bronze and religion - all results must contain all three words
- or - when used in searching it allows the substitution of one word for another (widens your results because either word can appear)
- Example: sculpture or architecture - results may contain only one of those two words
