Some Universal Search Features

1. Use "Help" or "Search Tips" link to answer questions about searching the database.
2. Can search multiple databases at the same time but may include loss of some specialized search features.
3. Use "quotation marks" to search for exact phrases (especially true for OCLC databases).
4. Can limit or refine retrieval by including various qualifiers (e.g., date range or publication type).
5. Can use "Not" as a connector to exclude words in order to create a more precise search.
6. Can search by title of periodical with a "Source" or "Publication Name" search and add qualifying term(s) with a keyword search.
7. Look for applicable subject headings (or descriptors) in article records to use as links to more articles on that topic.

New and/or Specialized Search Features

1. EBSCOhost periodical index databases¹:
   1. Includes some image (PDF) / full text (HTML) articles.
   2. Can limit retrieval in some EBSCOhost databases to scholarly (peer reviewed) journals.
   3. Includes links in some article records to:
      1. "Check SPU Catalog" for holdings information in the catalog.
      2. New Feature!  "Check for full text" to determine which SPU database might have the article in image/full text.
      3. "Request via ILL" if article is not available in an SPU database or at SPU.
          
2. ProQuest periodical index databases¹:
   1. Includes some image (PDF) / full text (HTML) articles.
   2. Can search using "Topic Guide" tab and then filter by subject, company/org, location, and person.
   3. Can limit retrieval to scholarly and peer-reviewed journals.
   4. Sorts article results by type of periodical (e.g., Scholarly Journals, Magazines, Trade Publications, Newspapers, Reference/Reports).
   5. New Feature!  Includes links to suggested topics and publications at the top of article results.
   6. Click on "Marked List" tab to use: (1) article and bibliography print feature, which supports emailing articles and various citation styles; and (2) research summary, which creates reading lists.
   7. Includes links in some article records to:
      1. "Check SPU Catalog" for holdings information in the catalog.
      2. New Feature!  "Check for full text via Article Linker" to determine which SPU database might have the article in image/full text.
         1. [Note: Includes a "Submit Interlibrary Loan Request" link to use when article is not available in an SPU database or at SPU.]
             
3. New!  CQ (Congressional Quarterly) Press database¹:
   1. Includes full text (HTML) reports from only the CQ Researcher Online periodical.
   2. Use the "Advanced Search" screen instead of "Quick Search" because of the additional search options available (e.g., which part of the reports to search, date range, and ways to sort results).
   3. Try "Browse by Topic" link if you have a topic in mind but need to narrow the focus.
   4. Be aware that some typical periodical database features are not present (e.g., does not have subject headings available to use as links to more reports on that topic.)
   5. Includes helpful links within a report to: (1) "CiteNow!", which shows how to cite the report in APA, MLA, or Chicago style; and (2) "Find Keyword", which does a search for the keyword(s) you entered in the search.
       
4. OCLC FirstSearch periodical index databases¹:
   1. Includes NO image/full text articles.
   2. Use "quotation marks" to search for exact phrases or the database will include an "and".
   3. Can limit search results to " Subscriptions held by my library".  [Note: Means SPU library has some issues of the periodical title in either paper or microfilm.]
   4. Can limit retrieval in some OCLC databases to peer reviewed journals.
   5. Shows in article record "Local Holdings Information" for periodical title (e.g., vol: 18-   1975-   ).  [Note: Sometimes this holdings information is not accurate so use link "Search the catalog at SPU Library" in article record to find accurate paper/microfilm holdings information.]
   6. New Feature!  Includes link "Find Full Text" on the record screen to determine which SPU database might have the article in image/full text.
   7. Use link "Borrow this item from another library (Interlibrary Loan)" or " ILL" icon in article record to order photocopy of periodical article.
       
5. CSA (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts) databases¹:
   1. Includes NO image (PDF) / full text (HTML) articles.
   2. New Feature!  Can limit retrieval to journal articles.
   3. Includes link "View Record" on the summary screen, in order to view additional information like abstract and descriptors (subject headings) in the record.
   4. New Feature!  Includes link "Find Full Text" on the summary and record screens to determine which SPU database might have the article in image/full text.
      1. [Note: If the article linker shows that the image/full text of the article is not available in an SPU database, then use link "By Journal Title" to search the SPU catalog.  If the periodical title/article is not held by the SPU library, then click link "Submit Interlibrary Loan Request" to order the article from another library.]
   5. Includes access from the summary screen to related web resources for some keyword searches.

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