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Demo! Click
to view QuickTime Video Demonstration.
Demo! indicates there
is a QuickTime video demonstration of the database. If you
do not have Apple QuickTime on your computer, go to http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
to download the free player.
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| Other databases that
share interface ArticleFirst, Biological
& Agricultural Index, CWI
Contemporary Women's Issues, Dissertations Abstracts,
ECO, EconLit, ERIC, GEOBASE, GPO Index, MEDLINE, PapersFirst,
PerAbs Periodical Abstracts, ProceedingsFirst, UnionLists,
WilsonSelectPlus, WorldAlmanac, and WorldCat |
Types of searches
- Basic - Boolean logic keyword searching
- Advanced - field keyword searching, plus
access to all the limiters; recommended
- Expert - command line searching, can
use all Boolean operators like W and N.
- Subject headings are present, but difficult
to browse
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| Truncation symbol
asterisk *, but severe restrictions on use (will bring
up error message if brings up too many results); use
+ at end to look for singular and plural form of words |
| Output methods
print, save to a disk, and e-mail. Can mark records,
then click Marked records to view and print/e-mail.
To print/e-mail full text articles, must be viewing
the particular record. |
Quirks
- Can search up to 3 databases at once -- click
on List All to see all the databases, and click
on the ones you want to search. Also, if you go
to the Suggest Best, you can type in a simple
search and it will tell you how many times it
occurs in the databases within the topic area
(general, humanities, etc.)
- It's very easy to switch databases. When you
refine your search, you can simply choose another
database in the first box labeled Search in.
- Put phrases in quotation marks - if you don't,
the system assumes an AND between words.
- If you find an item you want, FirstSearch tells
you if the UIS library has ever subscribed to
it by putting an
UNIV OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD in the
record. But FirstSearch doesn't know what
years the library carries, nor the call number,
so you'll have to look up the name of the periodical.
- If the UIS library doesn't own the periodical,
nor is it available full text in some other database,
you can submit an Interlibrary Loan request within
FirstSearch. When looking at the full record for
the item, click on the ILL button
at the top or bottom of the record, and fill out
the form.
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