SAMPLE SEARCH

• General Encyclopedias - likely too general
• Subject Specific Encyclopedias on World War II - none in our stacks (see under WCI Library Collections)

- Basic Searches tab now defaults to General Keyword
- type topic under selected field (eg./ General Keyword)
 eg./
encyclopedia* and world war
women and world war ii

(note:
- broaden topic to: women and world war if original search found nothing
- add another term if necessary to narrow search
- check subject headings of items found for other search terms as needed
eg./women and world war 1939* not fiction

- Browse select areas (in this case):

• 355s Military sciences
• 620s Technology (including weaponry, aeronautics, etc.)
• (940-990s) History of the modern world
  • 940s History of Europe
  • 970s History of North America

• use KEYWORD search
• use WCI search as example
• use "SEARCH FILTERS" to delimit location
• sort results if necessary

eg./
women and world war 1939* not fiction
encyclopedia* and world war

Browse same areas of stacks as indicated for WCI Library Collection example

MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER & JOURNAL DATABASES

• Select preferred package of databases:
  from our YRDSB list of packages or directly from
    - InfoTrac by Thomson / Gale (Home access requires password)
     - Ebscohost's Canadian Points of View
   - or -
              from Vaughan Public Libraries - Online Databases (VPL membership required)

• Select appropriate database(s) within preferred package (most are Infotrac databases purchased by Knowledge Ontario)

• Choose "Advanced Search" tab

• Ensure Fulltext selected

• type keyword(s):

  • combine keywords needed with AND operator

  • search most important keywords in Subject field (or broaden search to default fields if necessary)

  • use truncation as required

  • cluster similar concepts if necessary to optimize on line limitations

  • check assigned subject headings of highly relevant articles for alternate keywords

  • no one perfect strategy -- play around for the one that works best for given search

Infotrac articles may be emailed directly to user

enter keywords into selected fields

• most search engines will extrapolate variations of a word if the "main" word is used (eg./ the singular vs. plural form of a word)
• use quote marks " ..." to enclose phrases as necessary

eg/ women world war

you may search Google now:

alternately use the Advanced Search option

Easybib.com (free bibliographic formatting tool)

Technology How To's ...

• Google Advanced Image Search
  eg/ Sample search on Google Image Advanced Search

• YouTube

• Download / Convert Streaming Videos (Save streamed videos from YouTube, etc. for  presenting without access to Internet)

• Screen Capture (capturing an image that cannot otherwise be save to file)

• for more complete Tech Help pls see: Technology How To's ...

last updated 11/13/09

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