For the list of databases included in provider groups, select a link from the sidebar.
Accessible Archives
Optimal Search Template: Click on "Show more search boxes" -- under main search box.
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Use an asterisk, e.g. revolution*
Proximity Searching: Type two words in quotes, followed by ~# (up to 5): e.g. "slave* trade"~3
Formal Subject Searching: No subject searching but "Word Index" shows occurrences.
Key Features: Note "Date of Publication" search boxes, and drop-down menu for choosing individual publications, but Goucher does NOT subscribe to all the titles listed.
ACS (American Chemical Society) Publications
Optimal Search Template: Click on "Advanced Search" tab -- upper right of simple search box.
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Use an asterisk, e.g. oxygen*
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Feature: Checkbox "Enable stemming" to catch all words sharing same prefix, e.g. nano
America's Historical Newspapers, 1660-1900
Optimal Search Template: Click on "Add Search Field" for each extra search box required
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Use an asterisk, e.g. histor*
Proximity Searching: Type "near" between words, e.g. near5
Formal Subject Searching: subject searching is by eras only
Key Feature: Can limit publications to same state by clicking on "Places of Publication" tab
CQ Researcher
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of Quick Search box)
Default Connector: AND To phrase- search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: w/# e.g. dog w/5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Click "Topic" button.
Key Feature: Can select "Specific Report Sections" with checkboxes.
Early American Imprints
Optimal Search Template: Click on "Advanced Search."
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv* Use question mark for internal, e.g. wom?n
Proximity Searching: near# e.g. dog near5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Drop-down menu; choose "in SUBJECTS."
Key Feature: Can click on "Subjects" tab below to get to clickable list.
EBSCO Databases
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (default)
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: n# e.g. dog n5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Drop-down menu "Subject Terms"
Key Feature: When searching multiple databases: There is a limiters box for each database chosen.
European Views of the Americas
Optimal Search Template: Click on "Advanced Search" below single box. (There is NO multiple search-box template.)
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: n# e.g. dog n5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Type "SU" [no quotes] before subject term(s).
Key Features: Choose "Field Codes" link above search box to see SU, TI, AU, etc. Note publication date boxes and slide provided.
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of simple box)
Default Connector: AND and OR when using simple box (ANDed sites ranked higher.) To phrase-search use box "Exact Phrase."
Possible Connectors: Use "all these words" box for ANDs. Use "one or more" box for ORs.
Truncation: no truncation
Proximity Searching: no proximity except phrase
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Features:
-
Choose "dates, usage rights, etc." link; On "Where keywords show up" line, use drop-down menu to choose "in title of page."
-
"Search within a Site or Domain": Fill-ins can range from ".edu" to "youtube.com"
Google Book Search
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of simple box)
Default Connector: AND and OR when using simple box (ANDed sites ranked higher.) To phrase-search use box "Exact Phrase."
Possible Connectors: Use "with all" box for ANDs. Use "at least one" box for ORs.
Truncation: no truncation
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Feature: "Search in this book" input box (to right of page images).
Google Scholar
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (to right of simple box)
Default Connector: AND and OR when using simple box (ANDed sites ranked higher.) To phrase-search use box "Exact Phrase."
Possible Connectors: Use "with all" box for ANDs. Use "at least one" box for ORs
Truncation: no truncation
Proximity Searching: no proximity
Formal Subject Searching: no subject searching
Key Feature:"@ my library" links provide quick full text or other paths to obtaining item.
Goucher College Online Catalog
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (link is right of search box)
Default Connector: In keyword it's AND, but can phrase-search by using quotation marks
Possible Connectors: AND, OR e.g.(dog or cat) and AND NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: YES. In keyword, use within # e.g. dog within 5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Select "Subject" from drop-down menu
Key Feature: Can use "Material Type" drop-down menu to limit search to scores, videos, etc.
International Index to the Performing Arts
Optimal Search Template: "Search Articles" (in left column)
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search, use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND OR NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: n.# e.g. dog n.5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. "Narrow Subject" recommended
Key Feature: “select from a list” buttons provide guidance on what terms will work.
JSTOR
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (Link is below left end of search box)
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk. e.g. motiv* Use question mark for internal, e.g. wom?n
Proximity Searching: "two words" ~# e.g. "dog cat"~5
Formal Subject Searching: no subject indexing
Key Feature: Note check- boxes for: field-searching, type of article, targeting journals.
Lexis-Nexis Databases
Optimal Search Template: Click blue "News" tab on left; choose "All news" or other link
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Exclamation Point: e.g. motiv!
Proximity Searching: w/# e.g. dog w/5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Each result generates a list of terms below the full text.
Key Feature: Frequency Searching: e.g. atleast3 (dog!)
Printing: Use Lexis printer icon.
Literature Online (LION)
Optimal Search Template: Choose "Criticism & Reference" then "Criticism"
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: near.# e.g. dog near.5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Use "select from a list" at right of "Subject" box.
Key Feature: TEXTS" file offers searchable full-text of prose, poetry, drama.
Project Muse
Optimal Search Template: Advanced search (Next to Basic Search)
Default Connector: AND To phrase- search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: No proximity except phrase
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Drop-down menu: "Subject Headings"
Key Feature: Can check-box: "Include articles from JSTOR back issues."
ProQuest Databases
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (Green tab at top)
Default Connector: phrase-search
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g.motiv*
Proximity Searching: w/# e.g. dog w/5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: Only available if "Subject" appears in drop-down menu
Key Feature: "More Search Options": Drop-down menu for article types.
Readex
Optimal Search Template: Default; click "Add Search Field" for more boxes
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: Use NEAR# e.g. dog NEAR5 cat
Formal Subject Searching: No subject indexing
Key Features: "Return" drop-down menu to display "Best matches first." "Custom Date Range" possible under search box(es).
SciVerse / Science Direct
Optimal Search Template: Select "Search" button: Use "Advanced."
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks
Possible Connectors: AND, AND NOT, OR
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: None, except phrase
Formal Subject Searching: No subject indexing
Key Features:
-
Drop-down menu for "References" search
-
Default search covers past 10 years
WilsonWeb Databases
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (default)
Default Connector: AND To phrase-search use quotation marks.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv*
Proximity Searching: e.g. dog cat
Formal Subject Searching: Yes. Drop-down menu "Subject(s)"
Key Feature: "Subject Area": To limit search to specialty journals in major discipline
WorldCat (Classic)
Optimal Search Template: Advanced (default)
Default Connector: AND Use drop-down to phrase-search.
Possible Connectors: AND, OR, NOT
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv* (may cause error message)
Proximity Searching: w# e.g. (dog) within 5 (cat)
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Drop-down menu: Note "Subject" and "Subject Phrase" options.
Key Feature: "Rank by:" (at template bottom):Can switch from "Number of Libraries" to "Date"
WorldCat (Local)
Optimal Search Template: YES. Click on "Advanced Search" below single box
Default Connector: "+" = AND. Use quotes to phrase-search.
Possible Connectors: "+" to "AND" words; OR (must be capitalized!) to OR words; "-" to NOT words
Truncation: Asterisk: e.g. motiv* (may cause error message)
Proximity Searching: None
Formal Subject Searching: YES. Drop-down menu: Choose "Subject"
Key Feature: Use "Format" drop-down menu to retrieve "Book"s rather than articles
back to top
Print
Email
Share
