Library Tutorials
Information Literacy:
Use this animated tutorial to learn to select sources appropriate for beginning academic-level research, to search periodical indexes and databases, and to evaluate and cite information.
Starting Smart
Choosing a Topic
Finding Articles
Using the Web
Citing Sources
Database Searching:
The following tutorials combine narration and interactivity to help students refine their research skills. Designed from actual research interfaces, the tutorials replicate real world searching with the advantage of explanations and tips to enhance the research experience. Search examples used in the tutorials guide users through the process of complex searching with an emphasis on limiters for focused results. At the conclusion of each tutorial, users will be able to identify the connection between search criteria and search results.
Learn how to conduct a keyword search within a book, look up definitions of words, and paste APA citations into research papers
EBSCO Advanced Searching Interactive Tutorial (with audio) or (no audio)
This tutorial combines three search terms using various search fields such as Subject Terms, Journal Name, and All Text.
Methods of “limiting” your search for more accurate search results are also covered.
EBSCO PsycINFO: Finding Resources by Subject Interactive Tutorial (with audio) or (no audio)
In this tutorial you become familiar of the benefits of narrowing your search to specific subjects. Benefits include reducing the
number of irrelevant articles in search results and locating relevant articles based on predefined subject terms.
ProQuest Advanced Searching Interactive Tutorial (with audio) or (no audio)
This tutorial steps through various search options in the ProQuest interface for improved search results with time-saving efficiency.
The tutorial concludes with a close look at a single record to illustrate the connection between search criteria and search results.
InfoTrac Academic OneFile Subject Groupings (with audio)
This tutorial covers the use of broader, narrower, and related subject term groupings to transform general keyword searches to
precise subject-related search results.
ERIC: Finding Relevant Resources Interactive Tutorial (with audio) or (no audio)
This tutorial demonstrates how to quickly locate materials of relevance to your topic with the aid of education-related terms called
Descriptors. This technique also helps you to discover new topics that otherwise may not have come to mind.
Miscellaneous Guides
If you must Google (and everybody must sooner or later), try these tricks (click here)
Here are five quick tips that all Googlers should know. You'll be surprised at the difference a few quick keystrokes will make in
improving your search results.
ProQuest: Set Up Email Alerts in ABI Inform (click here)
RefWorks: Logging on to RefWorks (click here)
RefWorks: Manually Import Argosy Voyager Records (click here)