A quick slide show on library databases and how to navigate them with ease

1. Databases and Searching
A CCC Introduction to Research

2. What is a Database?

3. Examples of Databases
• Telephone Books
• Address Book
• Census Bureau Data
• Library OPAC
• EBSCO
• Gale
• Hotel/ Airline Booking System

4. What’s The Difference Between a
Database and a Website?

5. How to Pick the Correct Search
Terms
• Keep your terms simple 2-4 terms
• Add RELEVANT words to narrow down the
number of results you get!
• Try words a teacher or website would use!
• Use only important words.

6. What is Boolean Searching?
Boolean Search Operators
• The Boolean search operator AND is equal to the "+"
symbol.
• The Boolean search operator NOT is equal to the "-"
symbol.
• The Boolean search operator OR is the default setting
of any search engine; meaning, all search engines will
return all the words you type in, automatically.
• The Boolean search operator NEAR is equal to putting
a search query in quotes, i.e., "sponge bob square-
pants". You're essentially telling the search engine that
you want all of these words, in this specific order, or
this specific phrase.

7. Tips…
• Remember to use multiple search terms.
• Don’t be afraid to use multiple databases!
• You can use the abstract to find most of
your citation information!
• Too many results?
– Add more search terms
• Too few results?
– Take away or change your search terms!

8. How Does Google Get Their
Results?

9. Things You Don’t Have to Do With
Database Results
• Check for validity or credentials of article
• Search ENDLESSLY for
dates, authors, and other citation
information.

10. …Tricks
• Remember to copy and paste the URL of
the article into a Word/Google
Docs/email, file so you can return easily to
your article
• Son of Citation Machine works great for
Citation and Citation questions!

11. Improve Your Skills…
• Brush up on picking search terms with
Google-a-day!
• Start today’s challenge at
– www.agoogleaday.com

12. Presented by:
Jenny Montemorano M.L.S.
&
The Cayuga Community College Library
Reference Staff
2012

13. Works Cited
• Video 1
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llD1AY5fsjc
• Video 2
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzRybXvdlAA
• Video 2
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luosi12zsts&f
eature=related
• Video 3
• https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfb
vq_1079d74qtxcb&start=1&pli=1

14. Works Cited Images
• Slide 2 Microsoft Clip Art
• Spy vs Spy
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1680&bih=875&tbm=isch&tbnid=MWhE58jCXF3gEM:&imgrefurl
=http://phandroid.com/2008/11/07/verizon-dumping-google-for-
microsoft/&docid=bmiNkR2oS1O0AM&imgurl=http://phandroid.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/google-
vs-microsoft.jpg&w=640&h=389&ei=iBl3UIzZG-
bv0gG_soCoAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=175&vpy=485&dur=1954&hovh=175&hovw=288&tx=172&ty=77&sig=1101956411
79540360150&page=3&tbnh=122&tbnw=201&start=63&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:28,s:63,i:390
• Chinese Google Sign
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dcbsfbvq_1079d74qtxcb&start=1&pli=1
Google a Day Image Provided by
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1680&bih=921&tbm=isch&tbnid=t99SrySo7Tgt4M:&imgrefurl=http://
www.scoroncocolo.com/a-google-a-day.html&docid=-U5dGe7dgUTKzM&imgurl=http://www.scoroncocolo.com/Google-a-
day.jpg&w=297&h=249&ei=6ip3UK2BCqf50gHDgoGwAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=180&vpy=146&dur=457&hovh=199&hovw=237
&tx=127&ty=163&sig=111893578364711122167&page=1&tbnh=133&tbnw=156&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:74