ReedSearch: Search Strategy Tips

It's all about narrowing-down your topic!

There are several ways to more efficiently find the information you're looking for:

• Use quotes for multi-word names, titles, concepts, e.g., "Frank Lloyd Wright,"  "Of Mice and Men,"  "Progressive Era"
• Use truncation, e.g., athlet* will retrieve sources with the words athlete, athletes, athletic, athletics, athletically

• Use AND, OR, and NOT to combine or exclude concepts, e.g.:

  • "jimmy carter" AND "habitat for humanity" will retrieve sources about President Jimmy Carter's work with the organization Habitat for Humanity.  (AND narrows a search)

  • zeppelin* OR dirigible* OR blimp* OR airship* will receive sources containing commonly used words referring to gas-filled vehicles in the air.  (OR broadens a search)

  • telescope* NOT hubble will retrieve sources about telescopes, but will eliminate any mention of the Hubble telescope.  (NOT excludes a concept)

• Use the options in the drop-down menu:

Everything searches electronic and physical resources available through Reed Library, including the catalog.  This includes articles.

Reed Library Catalog searches for physical items in Reed Library, as well as e-books.

• Use the limiters to the left of the screen.  These provide several facets on which you can narrow your search.  ("Held by Library" retrieves only items physically in Reed Library.)