How do I ...
- do advanced searches in the library catalog
- search Databases and Catalogs
- find journal articles?
- find books on a my topic?
- find items at other libraries?
- use the Interlibrary Loan Service?
- find other libraries in our area?
- contact a reference librarian?
Advanced Searches in the Library Catalog
When you use the "complex search" feature of the catalog, you have the ability to combine search terms using the Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT. You also are able to use the "search limits" boxes to search according to date of publication, language, or item type. Thus, it would be simple to locate all of the books written in French in our collection which were published in a certain year , using the limit features of "pubyear", "language", and "itemtype".
Another aspect of effective searching is the use of truncation or searching for a root word with variant endings. We use $ for our truncation symbol so that searching for "stereotyp$" would also search for "stereotype", "stereotypes", "stereotyping", "stereotypical," etc. Because our catalog is on web-based, you have the ability to hyperlink to other records with the same author, title, or subject depending on which entry you choose to click. This concept is known as "lateral searching".
Searching Databases and Catalogs
Boolean
Operators |
|
Search Categories
- Authors in the BSC Catalog may be searched by first and last name (Charles Dickens) or by last name, comma, first name (Dickens, Charles). Some databases recognize one or the other--but not both.
- Title searches ignore the initial A, An, The. Periodical titles can be searched separately in the BSC Catalog.
- Keywords allow you to search for particular terms. This is the broadest type of search and the easiest. But keyword searches can also be misleading because they do not find related words--only exact matches. A keyword search for Tortoises, for example, will not find entries under Turtles, the more inclusive term.
- Subjects are broader categories or descriptors established by the Library of Congress. Consult the red Subject Headings for exact words as well as broader and narrower terms. Look for subject terms highlighted in the citation.
- Phrase Searches employ multiple words as a single phrase. Academic Search Elite, for example, has a natural language search feature that translates Binge-drinking on college campuses into a series of subject searches. Other databases require the use of quotations around a phrase, for example, Google identifies the phrase "Men more frequently require to be reminded than informed" in Samuel Johnson's Rambler #2 (March 24, 1750).
- Truncation expands
a search by including multiple endings of a word stem. In the
BSC Catalog, for example, typing volcan$ as a keyword
finds volcanic, volcano, volcanoes, etc.
Unfortunately, different databases use different symbols. Below
are the most common databases and their symbol for truncation.
- $ BSC Catalog
- * EBSCO, GALENET, FIRSTSEARCH, and WEBSPIRS*
- ? ProQuest
- ! Academic Universe, Congressional Universe, and History Universe (Lexis-Nexis Databases)
- Wildcards may be used when you are unsure of the spelling of a name. A symbol can be inserted to replace missing letters. An author search of M$Donald, for example, will find both those whose last name is MacDonald and those who spell it McDonald. A keyword search of Wom$n will find both Woman and Women.
- Field Searches further limit the search criteria within certain specific fields, such as publication date, language, and item type. This can be particularly useful when narrowing a search.
Boolean Operatorsare simply the words AND, OR, NOT. When used between words, they facilitate searching, particularly in keyword and subjects. Because some databases require these words be capitalized, it is a safe bet to do so always.
- AND picks up only the records which contain both of the terms. For example, if you searched for poverty and crime the database would only retrieve the gray shaded area, which contains both subjects.
- OR picks up all items
that include either term. The terms may or may not be related.
When using the OR operator use the most desired term first. The
OR operator can contain either the first term the second term,
or both. The OR operator is most valuable when looking for like
terms, such as College or University.
- NOT retrieves excluded records. Spirits NOT Alcohol, for example, will find all references to Spirits (otherworldly beings) but not Alcoholic Spirits (Liquor).
- Nesting simply
groups words using parentheses, searching within the parentheses
first and then outside. This is especially helpful when using
multiple Boolean operators. For example, a search for Athletes AND (Men
or Male) will retrieve all records on male athletes and men
as athletes.
Finding Journal Articles
Indexes and databases provide access to specific articles published in journals and newspapers (and increasingly the full-text of the articles themselves).
BSC subscribes to a number of these indexes and databases in a variety of formats--print, CD-ROM, and electronic. These are accessed from the gold navigatiion bar by first clicking Indexes and Databases and then either using the Alphabetic list (if you already know which one you need) or the Subject list (which will help you choose the most appropriate index or database). Click the "About" feature to learn which types of journals are indexed, dates covered, and availability of full text.
Once you have located the articles you need, you will probably notice that not all of them are available full text in the database you are searching. Click Periodicals @ BSC on the gold navigation bar to see if they are available full-text in another database, or in print or microfilm format in the Library. Current periodicals are kept on the main floor, and back issues are either bound or available on microfilm in the basement. The Library discards a few popular magazines and journals after a while.
Remember, if you need an article that is not available locally, you can use Interlibrary Loan to request a copy of the article.
Finding Books on a Specific Topic
From the Library home page, click on Library Catalog. Each record (entry) in the catalog is composed of units of information called "fields", for example author, title, or subject fields. After entering your search term in the box provided, you can choose to click on a specific field icon such as "subject" or "title". The "search everything" or keyword search is the broadest search possible as it looks for your term in all fields. Your search brings up a list of brief records which contain your search term. To see the full record for an item, simply click on "view". You have the ability to mark the records you want to print, e-mail, or save to disk by clicking on the box next to the record.
When your search identifies a book in our collection, the "copy material location" information gives you the call number, item type, and the status. "Stacks" indicates the book is located on the second floor of the library, and is available for circulation. If a book you need is currently checked-out, you can ask the Circulation Desk to put a "hold" on the book and notify you when it is returned. Reference books do not circulate.
To retrieve books on your subject which are not in our collection, please refer to the library help page How do I find items at other libraries?
Finding Items at other Libraries
BSC students, faculty, and staff have two ways to acquire materials which are not available in our collection. We provide free interlibrary loan service (see "Interlibrary Loan Service") or you may visit an area college or university library and check out items using your BSC ID card. You may also use the resources at Birmingham Public Library, but will need to apply for a membership card there. Links to local libraries' catalogs are available on the Library's Other Libraries page.
The easiest way to find materials on your topic in local libraries is to consult ALICAT, a union catalog of books and journals in Alabama libraries. This catalog may be accessed from the Library's Other Libraries page. You may search ALICAT by author, title, subject or keyword (anyword). Searches can be limited to a specific library, such as UAB's Sterne Library, by using the "location" search box. You may also limit your search by date or format.
WorldCat is a very large database representing any type of material held in libraries worldwide. It contains millions of bibliographic records representing items in 400 languages. This catalog may be accessed from the Library's Other Libraries page. WorldCat allows searchers to conduct a "basic" search with a single search box, or an "advanced" search in which search terms can be combined. An "expert" search allows you to use Boolean operators, adjacent terms, truncation, and other searching strategies. Searches can be limited by date, language, item type, and library. If you cannot find information on your topic using WorldCat, you probably need to change your topic!
Interlibrary Loan Service
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service is available to all BSC faculty, students, and staff. You can request books or journal articles by completing an on-line request form. To access this form, click on Request Forms on the Library home page. Choose either Request a Book or Request a Periodical. Fill in the information requested and click on "submit". Printed forms are also available at the Circulation Desk if you prefer not to use the electronic form.
The response time for most ILL requests is two to six days. While the service is typically free to faculty, staff, and students, a lending library may occasionally charge a fee which will have to be paid by the patron. ILL books must be renewed two days prior to their due date, and only one renewal per item is allowed. To renew an item, please call 226-4748 or come by the ILL office in the Library from 8 - 4:30 M - F. A $2.00 fine per item per day is charged for overdue books.
How to get to local libraries from BSC.
Birmingham Public Library
2100 Park Place
(205) 226-3600
Head East on Interstate 59/20. Take the 22nd Street exit. Turn
right onto Park Place (just past 7th Ave. N.) The library is on
the right. More
information
UAB - Sterne Library
917 13th St. South
(205) 934-6364
Head South on Interstate 65. Take the 4th Avenue South exit.
Turn right onto 13th Street and go 4 blocks. The library is on the
left, just before 10th Ave. South. More
information
UAB - Lister Hill Library
1700 University Blvd.
(205) 934-2230
Head South on Interstate 65. Take the 4th Avenue South exit.
Turn right onto 13th Street, go 3 blocks, and turn left onto University
Blvd. The library is on the left. More
information
Samford University Library
800 Lakeshore Dr.
(205) 726-2196
Head South on Interstate 65. Take the Lakeshore Dr. exit heading East. Samford
University is on the left (look for signs). More
information
The following map shows the locations of local libraries in Birmingham:
