Finding Information

Searching effectively for books, journal articles, and other information resources using both library and web-based resources now available to you.

HCT One Minute Guides: Boolean Searching in Databases Part I VIDEO

Boolean searching makes your search more powerful – in this video a quick introduction to using the AND Boolean operator is described in databases. Boolean searching works in almost every electronic resources however, including Google. The AND operator makes your search results smaller. Video is 1:14 min. Resource F10.


HCT One Minute Guides: Boolean Searching in Databases Part III VIDEO

In this part of the series it is demonstrated how to use the NOT Boolean operator to make your search results more specific for what you need. NOT will take out any information subjects you are not interested in, for example “web NOT spider” would take out any results about spiders if you are interested in only the world-wide-web. Video ...

Generating search terms VIDEO

A clear, short video which describes how to improve your search strategies used in searching electronic resources, such as the Web or databases. Discussion of why you would think about search terms, and how synonyms, broader and narrower terms may help your research. Produced by College of San Mateo, US. Video is 3:49 min. Resource F13.

Generating search terms: Part I VIDEO

A short video describing why you would spend a few minutes looking at your research question and possible search terms, including a practical example of brainstorming ideas. Produced by Research Tutorials. Video is 1:48 min. Resource F14.  

Generating search terms: Part II VIDEO

A more advanced but useful way of generating search terms using “Library of Congress” search terms which are located in the library catalogue record of all resources. This method can be used at HCT – reference T55 for more information about searching the catalogue. Produced by Research Tutorials. Video is 2:48 min. Resource F15.

HCT One Minute Guides: Discovery (using the library catalog) VIDEO

HCT libraries all use one catalog to index and be able to find what resources are in our collections. This video introduces you to how to use the “Discovery” search to find both books on the shelves and electronic resources available online, for all libraries. Video is 1:19 min. Resource F200.

HCT One Minute Guides: Call Numbers VIDEO

Books and DVDs on the shelf in libraries are ordered by “call number”. It is a system for keeping resources on the same topic together on the shelf in the same place, and this quick video demonstrates where to find the “call number” of a HCT book using the library catalog. Easy! Video is 0:53 min. Resource F201.

HCT One Minute Guides: Subject headings VIDEO

Searching in the library catalog can get better results when you use subject headings instead of simple keywords. You will find resources that are specifically on the topic, rather than the word which happened to be in a title or item description. This easy to follow video shows you how to use subject headings. Video is 1:14 min. Resource F202.

HCT One Minute Guides: Choosing a database VIDEO

The HCT libraries give you access to over 100 different databases on almost every subject. This video shows you one way to choose the database best for your topic. Ask your librarian for other methods, if you are not successful. Video is 1:25 min. Resource F203.