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 The Sporting Life Database Search Features

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THE SPORTING LIFE--USEM 1000
DATABASE SEARCH FEATURES

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.
  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. ProQuest periodical index databases1:
    1. Includes some image (PDF) / full text (HTML) articles.
    2. New Feature!  Can search using "Topic Guide" tab and then filter by subjects, companies, people, and locations.
    3. New Feature!  Sorts article results by type of periodical (e.g., Scholarly Journals Scholarly Journals, Magazines, Trade Publications, Newspapers, Reference/Reports).
    4. Includes link "Local holdings may be availableFind a copy" for periodical titles not in image/full text in the database that may be in paper or microfilm in the SPU library.
    5. New Feature!  Click on "Marked List" tab to use: (1) bibliography print feature, which supports various citation styles; and (2) research summary, which creates reading lists.
    6. Includes links in some article records to:
      1. "Check SPU Catalog" for holdings information in the catalog.
      2. New Feature!  "Check Gold Rush for Online Holdings" for determining which SPU database indexes the periodical title and/or includes image/full text.
    7. Does not have an interlibrary loan link (ILL) so request articles using SPU ILL web form.
       
  2. EBSCOhost periodical index databases1:
    1. Includes some image (PDF) / full text (HTML) articles.
    2. Can limit retrieval in some EBSCOhost databases to peer reviewed scholarly journals.
    3. Includes links in some article records to:
      1. "Check SPU Catalog" for holdings information in the catalog.
      2. New Feature!  "Check Gold Rush for Online Holdings" for determining which SPU database indexes the periodical title and/or includes image/full text.
      3. "Request via ILL" if article is not available in the database or at SPU.
         
  3. CSA (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts) databases1:
    1. Includes NO image (PDF) / full text (HTML) articles.
    2. Use the Advanced Search capability to get better search results.
    3. Includes a link on the summary screen to "Check Your Library" and then a "Search" button to view the SPU paper or microfilm holdings information in the catalog.
    4. Includes a link on the summary screen to "View Record", which includes an abstract of the periodical article for some CSA databases.
    5. Includes access from the summary screen to related web resources for some keyword searches.

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1See main SPU Database web page or subject listing of databases to match database and vendor.

Aileen Maddox, 206-281-2420, amaddox@spu.edu
SPU Library, Room 129

rev. 09/25/04