Online Treasure Hunting

Online Treasure Hunting
Your Instructor:
Kathryn Bergeron
Systems Librarian
248/554-4650
Kathryn.Bergeron@baldwinlib.org

Agenda
Advanced Searching Techniques
Searching a phrase
Searching within a site
Perform Multiple Searches
Advanced Google Searching
Dictionary
Conversions
Tracking
Advanced Library Searching
Catalog
Library Databases

Computer & Internet Use @ the Library
Acceptable Use Policy
Obey all laws regarding copyright
No obscene/harmful to minors material
No damage to equipment or network
No personal software
No illegal activities

Advanced Searching Techniques
Many are common across search engines
Some are particular to a certain search engine
They can be used in databases, search engines, individual websites, etc…

Searching a Phrase
Most common way: enclose the phrase in quotation marks
“nights are long but you're on your way”
This is a lyric from the theme song to “Who’s the Boss”.
Without quotes, it doesn’t appear on page 1
With the quotes it is result #1
Works in Google, Yahoo!, and Bing and many other databases and search engines
Be wary, if you use the wrong word, you’ll miss your result (i.e. nights are long but I’m on my way)

Searching within a site
If a website does not have a “search site”, try searching within a site
Bing & Yahoo!: url:baldwinlib.org
Google: site:baldwinlib.org
treasure hunting site:baldwinlib.org
It will search all of the sub-sites listed to that domain

Perform Multiple Searches
Use the OR to search for several different terms
Red Wings Stanley Cup 1997 OR 1998
This will search for either the Stanley Cup win in 1997 or the one in 1998
Otherwise you’ll be searching for both 1997 and 1998 wins
Google or Yahoo! And many other searches

Advanced Google Searching
Google has all kinds of specific search engines
Performing a normal Google search will bring up results from other Google search engines at the top
Michigan Elections
Brings up news and video results

Google Searching - Dictionary
Need the definition of a word…
define: library
It will automatically bring you to a collection of definitions for the word “library”

Google Searching - Conversions
Google can do your conversions:
3 lbs in kg
time Hong Kong10 us dollars in pounds
2 cups in tbsp
Unit Conversions, time conversion, currency conversion, and cooking conversions

Google Search - Tracking
Google can do your tracking
weather
movies
Delta 2044
GOOG
1Z9999W99999999999
Track weather, movies, flights, stocks, and packages
Google knows where you are, so either of the following will bring the same results:
weather Farmington Hills, MI
Weather
Our Internet Service is routed from Farmington Hills, so within the library you will get results for Farmington Hills, but from home you should get whichever city you are in.

Advanced Library Searching
You can use your advanced searching within the library

Advanced Library Searching - Catalog
Browse
Exact
Keyword
Type of Search
Power Search

Advanced Library Searching - Catalog
Browse – Use this when you think you the beginning of a title but aren’t sure
i.e. Girl with the serpent markings
Keyword – Use this when you don’t know the first word of a title
i.e. Dragon Girl
Exact – Use only when you are sure that you know the whole title (no “a”, “an”, or “the”)
i.e. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
**All examples are for the book “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”

Advanced Library Searching – Catalog – Types of Search
Title – Publish History
Author – Yates (last name first, for a browse)
Subject – Genealogy
Words or Phrase - Family History
Donor - BPL Staff
Honoree - Wojtowicz
Series - Harry Potter
Periodical Title - New York Times

What Is a Database?
A place to…
…find reliable information
…expand your knowledge
…learn a new skill
…search for answers

Where to start – Getting to the Databases
Double click on Internet Explorer – the Baldwin Public Library Website will open
Hover Over “Library Collections” and click on “Databases”

You’ve found our databases!
Note: If you’re trying this from home, you can go directly to: http://www.baldwinlib.org

Navigation
The Categories on the top help you find the database you’re looking for: Academic, Business, Law or Health, for example
If you know the database you’re looking for, try clicking on the “To Find Databases Alphabetically, click here”

Just Click!
Now, click on the database that you want to visit!
From home, you’ll be asked for your library card number and your pin number
If you have an alternate id, you can use that, but be sure to enter it in all caps!
We can help you with this information after class, or call us with your library card number.

Advanced Library Searching – Library Databases
Most library databases will have advanced searching methods for when you get stuck
Look for an “advanced search” link
Look for a “search tips” link
Examples:
Ancestry Library: Search Tips
Health and Wellness Resource Center: Search Tips
You can also try AND, OR, and NOT in all caps (common in databases)

Baldwin Special Interest Pages
In order to help you better do subject specific searching, Baldwin has created subject specific pages
http://www.baldwinlib.org/special-interests
Click on any of the subjects to get great places to search for subject specific information.

For more information…
Kathryn Bergeron
Adult Services Librarian
248/554-4650
Kathryn.Bergeron@baldwinlib.org
Presentation Slides Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/baldwinlib

Online Treasure Hunting

by Baldwin Public Library on Oct 27, 2010

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Online Treasure Hunting Presentation Transcript