Tips for Searching Indexes and Databases

Most library databases work on the same principles when you are searching for a topic: keyword/subject searching and the use of Boolean operators and truncation symbols.

Note: These are general guidelines; please consult the Help screens in each database you use to determine what features are available and how they might be different from those described below, e.g., the truncation symbol may be a dollar sign ($) instead of an asterisk (*).

  • Identify the keywords of your topic, then think of synonyms that could be substituted for your keywords.
  • Once you have some keywords and their synonyms, form a search statement that you will type into the database search box. If you are using more than one keyword, you will need to place Boolean operators between the keywords, i.e., place and between keywords unless they form a phrase; place or between synonyms or "like" terms; use not to exclude terms; examples:

    • portraits and jesus christ and crucifixion
    • (portraits or illustrations) and jesus christ and crucifixion
    • (portraits or illustrations) and jesus christ not crucifixion
  • Use the truncation symbol to search for variant endings of a word, example:

    • (portrait* or illustrat*) and jesus christ and crucifi*  Use of the asterisk, or truncation symbol, will allow for automatic searching of all variations, such as portrait, portraits, illustrate, illustrated, illustration, etc.
  • Keywords vs. Subject Headings

    • the use of subject headings (also known as descriptors) is the method by which an index or database has designated "official" terms or phrases for a topic
    • searching by keyword often can return many results, some of which may be irrelevant to your topic; subject searching focuses the search and returns fewer results; most, if not all, of them will be directly relevant to your search
    • keyword searching searches many fields, e.g., title, abstract, subject headings, whereas subject heading searching searches only the subject heading field
    • search first by keyword, find records which are relevant to your search, then look for the subject headings assigned to the record, there are often several -- jot them down, then execute a subject search
    • most indexes allow both keyword and subject searching