INDEX: [What is INFOTRAC?] [How do I get to INFOTRAC?]
[What should I use INFOTRAC for?] [How do I search INFOTRAC?]
INFOTRAC (Expanded Academic ASAP®) is a database that covers a multitude of subject areas including both the arts and the sciences. The INFOTRAC collection contains more than 3,500 indexed and full-text titles 2,100 of which are peer-reviewed.
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 INFOTRAC is as authoritative as if you had the original print copy in hand.
·
o Go to (http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/library.htm)
o Click “Find Articles”
o Click “INFOTRAC”
o Click “Proceed”
o If you are off campus you will need an Password, contact the BSC library
The materials found on the INFOTRAC can be used to satisfy all kinds of needs such as research, background reading, self instruction, or pleasure reading. This database is particularly useful in the case of academic research because for many fields, 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 INFOTRAC.
By default INFOTRAC is setup to complete a subject search, to change your search method click on “Keyword search”, “Advanced search”, or other search interface on the left hand side of the page. Input your search terms and then click the “search” button.
· Use Keyword search for initial searches to pull in large amounts of results to help focus your research by reviewing what is available, e.g. Fuel Cells
· Use the Advanced search to specifically search within the bibliographic fields of articles such as author, title, journal name, etc. This allows for greater precision than keyword & subject searching, e.g. Rolf Kvamsdal
Before your search
you can set search limits which will reduce the number of articles retrieved.
You can search for only results with full text, by publication, etc. These
options can be found below each search screens under the heading “Limit the
current search (optional).”
Once you find the
articles (or citation) that you need you can either print or save them.
·
Printing
o
To
print an article in PDF format, click on Acrobat
Reader found in blue at the bottom of every article in PDF full text, then
when the PDF file opens click on the Adobe PRINT icon.
o
To
print an article in HTML format, click on Browser
Print found in blue at the bottom of every article available in HTML full
text.
o To save an article in PDF format, click on the Adobe SAVE A COPY icon.
o To save an article in HTML format, either go to File > Save or email plain text version using the E-Mail Delivery option available at the bottom of every article or citation.
·
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
For
INFOTRAC the Help files most relevant to the page you are currently using can
found at the top left of the screen. The primary index for all help files can
be accessed through that link.
·
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 your first search calls up bad, mistaken, or
even no results – simply try your search again with different terms and
settings.