Introduction to Library Research
This guide introduces library research and search tools.
Watch This Academic (Library) Database Explainer
Research can feel overwhelming when it is difficult to know what sources are useful and trustworthy. Academic databases help solve this problem by making sources easy to search, filter, and evaluate. This video explains Academic Databases and teaches:
- Why quality matters more than quantity in research
- Where to find academic databases
- What types of publications and subjects are available
- How to search an academic database effectively
- How to filter search results
Duration: 02m 19s
Add the 3 Magic Words - also called "Boolean Operators"
Make It an "Exact Phrase"
Add Quotation Marks to search for an exact phrase or words in a specific or EXACT order. An exact phrase will return more accurate results.
For an example, search: separation anxiety vs. “separation anxiety”.
Dive Deeper
- Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 1 from Credo's Info-Lit Core Courseware
Part 1 of 2 walk-throughs - Tutorial: Search Techniques, Part 2 from Credo's Info-Lit Core CoursewarePart 2 of 2 walk-throughs
- Video: Refining Search Results from Credo Info-Lit Core
A short video explainer [4:10] - Videos: Searching as ExplorationA short video explainer (1:46).