INDEX: [What is EBSCOhost?] [How do I get to EBSCOhost?]
[What should I use EBSCOhost for?] [How do I search EBSCOhost?]
EBSCOhost is not a single database but a collection of multiple databases that can be searched singly or in selected groups. These databases are collections of electronic copies of full text, citations, abstracts, and images taken directly from journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other sources.
Note: Even though database articles are commonly found online THEY ARE NOT WEBPAGES and do in fact qualify as legitimate sources for academic research. An article found on EBSCOhost is as authoritative as if you had the original print copy in hand.
As of 05/01/2006 the Bluefield State EBSCOhost collection includes:
·
o Go to (http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/library.htm)
o Click “Find Articles”
o Click “EBSCOhost Research Databases” (upper left hand side)
o Click “EBSCOhost Web”
o At the Chose Databases screen select one or more databases to search. If you’re not sure which database(s) to search, see [What is EBSCOhost?]
o If you are off campus you will need an ID/Password, contact BSC library
The materials found on the EBSCOhost Research Database can
be used to satisfy all kinds of needs such as research, background reading,
self instruction, or pleasure reading. The databases are particularly useful in
the case of academic research because for many fields, especially the sciences,
journal articles allow for the most current perspectives due to their rapid
production and publication.
As with nearly any
other piece of information technology there are many, many, different ways to
use them. Search methods can range from a simple keyword search to searching
with multiple phrases combined with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). To learn
how to become a more advanced searcher, see [Where
can I get extra help?]. For now, I have listed below some basic
ways to search EBSCOhost.
With EBSCOhost you can search not just one database at a
time but multiple. You often lose some of the fancier features when you do this
but for a first search it can be quite a time saving option. You can select
multiple databases off of the Choose
Databases screen by ticking off the boxes to the left of each database and
then clicking “Continue” or you can select just one database only by clicking
it directly.
By default the
first search screen is set up for a basic keyword search. Input your search
term(s) into the Find: window, e.g.
Before or after your
search you can set limits (which will reduce the number of articles retrieved)
or expanders (will increase the number of articles retrieved). Both limiters
and expanders can be found below the Find:
window on the green Refine Search
tab. You can either tick of the limiter/expander’s box or input the desired
search parameters.
· To perform an Author Search type AU followed by a space and then list the author’s name, last name first, in the Find: window in either Basic or Advanced search.
e.g AU Shearar, Kirstin A.
· To perform a Subject Search type SU followed by a space and then the subject term in the Find: window in either Basic or Advanced search, e.g. SU radiology
· To perform a Title Search type TI followed by a space and then the article title in the Find: window in either Basic or Advanced search. Sometimes punctuation (correctly placed or not) can defeat this search method so try your article title with punctuation first and then without if your search returns are unsuccessful.
e.g TI Hi-Tech Patient Care
Once you find the
articles that you need you can either print or save them.
·
Printing
o
To
print an article in PDF format, click on the Adobe PRINT icon.
o
To
print an article in HTML format, use the EBSCOhost PRINT icon.
o To save an article in PDF format, click on the Adobe SAVE A COPY icon.
o To save an article in HTML format, click on the EBSCOhost SAVE icon.
·
Librarian
o
First,
ask a librarian who is closest to the library facilities that you are using.
o
Then,
reach out to other campus librarians (e.g.
o
Finally,
you can consult, via email or phone, outside librarians (e.g. Library of
Congress Librarians)
·
Help
Files
o
On
nearly ever EBSCOhost screen there are links to very thorough help files. These
can be found by either clicking on “Help” found in the upper right side of the
screen or clicking on the “?” which can often be found to the right of a
specific feature or tool.
·
EBSCOhost
Tutorial
o
Go to EBSCO
Support (http://support.epnet.com/training/tutorials.php)
o
Click
on “EBSCOhost Tutorials”
o
Click
on “Basic Searching for Academic Libraries (runtime 3.4 minutes)”
·
Other
Tutorials
o
Go to (http://pages.paloverde.edu/staff/library/Tutorials.htm)
o
Click
on one of the URL’s for an Ebscohost Tutorial
·
Trial
and Error
o
Like
anything else the more you use something the more proficient you will become.
The database will not be broken if you call up bad or mistaken results – simply
try your search again with different terms and settings.