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Use of Library and Information Gathering: Plan Your Search Strategy

The document provides guidance on planning a search strategy for gathering library and information. It recommends mapping main ideas and keywords for a topic, using Boolean operators like AND and OR to narrow or broaden searches, and considering sources like encyclopedias, dictionaries, periodicals, and scholarly journals for an overview or specialized information on a topic.

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Maliha Maqsood Ahmed
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1K views7 pages

Use of Library and Information Gathering: Plan Your Search Strategy

The document provides guidance on planning a search strategy for gathering library and information. It recommends mapping main ideas and keywords for a topic, using Boolean operators like AND and OR to narrow or broaden searches, and considering sources like encyclopedias, dictionaries, periodicals, and scholarly journals for an overview or specialized information on a topic.

Uploaded by

Maliha Maqsood Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Use of Library and Information

Gathering: Plan Your Search Strategy


• It is very helpful to map out the main ideas of
your topic. This can be useful in the search for
information.

• Make a list of keywords related to your topic


using:

– Main ideas

– Synonyms or words with the same or similar meaning


Use of Library and Information
Gathering: Plan Your Search Strategy
• Develop search terms:

– Start with one search term, even though your results may be too
broad, then
– Add a second search term with the Boolean Operators AND or
OR.
• AND narrows a search; results are limited to materials that include
all of the specified text
• OR broadens a search; results are materials that include any of the
search terms in the text.
– Even though OR broadens rather than narrows your topic, its use is
important especially when attempting to include all aspects of your
topic, e.g.:
» Physicians OR Doctors
» Lawyers OR Attorneys
– Add additional search terms as needed
Use of Library and Information
Gathering: Plan Your Search Strategy
• Sources to use for an overview of a topic:
– General encyclopedias, e.g. Encyclopedia
Americana®
– Specialized encyclopedias, e.g. Encyclopedia
of Drama®
– Specialized dictionaries. e.g. Dictionary of
Classical Mythology®
– General interest periodicals (magazines and
newspapers)
Gather Sources
• Sources to use for specialized information:
– Books (search the online catalog for specific titles;
browse call number location for related titles)
– Scholarly journals (journals published for academics
or professionals; the library's holdings include print
journals and electronic databases with full text)
– Internet (use caution with this source; you must
evaluate Internet sources for credibility, authority, and
currency)
Gather Sources
• Magazines, journals, and newspapers
would have the most current, reliable
information. The Internet is current, but
you would need to be careful about the
reliability!
Gather Sources
• An encyclopedia or other reference book
would provide a ready source of fast,
reliable information.
• A popular magazine or newspaper would
provide research for this kind of topic.
• A scholarly, peer-reviewed journal would
provide information for this type of topic.
Gather Sources
• Keep track of sources used for citing
documentation:
– Write down all the publication information,
pages used, etc.
– Know what style format is required for
citations (example: APA)
• With your research completed, you are
ready to start writing your paper!!

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