HIST 600: Historical Method & Theory: Starting to Search

Key Word Search:

Type one or more words of the title, author, subject, or series or song titles. Keyword search results are usually grouped by relevance to bring the most likely titles to the top of the list. For example:
    cisneros mango street 
    tan joy luck
    stapleton halos

If you aren't sure of how to spell something, use '*' for 1-5 characters, '**' for open-ended truncation, or '?' to replace a single character anywhere within a word. For example: polic*, comput**, wom?n

Author Search:

Type all or part of the author's name (last name, first) or the name of an illustrator, actor, director, composer, performer or organization. For example: 
     Morrison, Toni
     Carle, Eric 
 Knowles, Beyonce
     Cho, John 
     Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

Title Search:

Type as much or as little of the title as you know, beginning with the first words of the title. If you don't know the exact title, do a keyword search. For example: 
     a raisin in the sun 
     hamilton 
     harry potter and the

Before you jump in to find articles on your topic in periodicals, take a moment to think about what you're looking for. This step is important, not just for this class, but for any research you'll do in the future, whether it's for school or your own interests.

Ask yourself some questions:

• Does my topic fit within any broad subject area(s)?
• Would a subject index, a general index or both suit my needs?
• Do I need current information or historical information on my topic?
• Is there a subject index in print, but not electronic, format that will be helpful?

Planning your search strategy can save you time in the research process. It will help you focus your search so you choose the most useful indexes or databases with which to start. It certainly beats getting right into a general electronic database, typing in topic words you haven't thought about much and sorting through the, often extensive, list of results.

Above all, don't give up if you don't find material on your subject right away! Try thinking of other words to describe your subject. You may find material on your topic listed under some of these synonyms. Check the Library of Congress Subject Headings volumes at the reference desk, or try using a thesaurus.

Even if you don't succeed with the synonyms you try, don't give up yet! Remember, each index and database has a certain coverage of periodical titles, so you may need to try a different index/database that would cover periodicals more suited for your topic.

Also remember you can ask a librarian at the reference desk to help you search for your topic; the librarians are there to help you in your research, and they have experience searching the library's many indexes and databases. A librarian may be able to help you think of more synonyms or help you use an index thesaurus to come up with subject name(s) you need. A librarian may also be able to help you use a particular index or database in other ways to locate material on your topic, or s/he may direct you to a better index or database for researching your topic.

Searching for specific types of music-related materials in an online catalog can be much easier and quicker if you know your Keyword search option.

For example, in the ISU Online Catalog, you can select Keyword searching and then set more limits to discover how to limit your Keyword searches to: 

• Location [e.g., Main Library or Music Listening Library]
• Material type [e.g., Music score, Non-musical recording, musical recording

In addition to using the Set More Options, you can also design searches on the main Keyword screen such as: 

• Mozart AND sound
• Mozart AND music
• Mozart AND scores
• Mozart AND full score?
• Mozart NOT {voice or piano}
• Thematic catalogs AND {composer}
• Thematic catalogs AND {type of music}
• Music AND thesis