A catalog is a systematic list of items that provides descriptive details. Sterling is Howard University's online catalog, which contains books, films, microforms, newspapers, maps, and more. To search Sterling, one goes to the library's homepage and clicks on the link to access the catalog. When searching for information on interracial adoption in the United States, keywords like "interracial", "biracial", "race", "multiracial", "transracial adoption", "United States", "US", and "America" can be used. Boolean operators like "AND" and "OR" can help narrow or expand search results.

1. Catalog / Catalogue What is a catalog?

2. A catalog is a systematic list of anything persons or objects. Synonyms for Catalog Directory Bibliography Index Compilation / list / checklist Manifest / register Systematic list of items with descriptive details… e.g. library card catalogs

3. Sterling Howard University’s online catalog A systematic list with descriptive details: Books / bound journals Films / videos / d v d / audio recordings Microfilms / microfiche Newspapers and periodicals Maps and atlases / and more…

4. To search Sterling Go to the library’s home page http://www.howard.edu/library/

5. Library’s Home page Sterling is in Red under Search

6. Welcome to the Access Page

7. Our Topic Interracial Adoption in the United States

8. How can we search on Sterling? According to the access page there are several options. For our purposes we will search by: Keyword Subject

9. What are our keywords? And synonyms Topic: Interracial Adoption in the United States _______________ Keywords: Interracial / Biracial / Race / Multiracial Transracial Adoption United States / US / America

10. Always use keywords with a Boolean operator Introduction to Boolean Logic. George Boole / British mathematician And OR Not

11. Function of Boolean Operators And… will narrow the search. Or… when used with a synonym will expand the search. Not… will exclude any word that follows it.

12. On the access page Select keyword Type in Adoption Results: 279 titles

13. Results Page

14. Narrow the search Which Boolean operator should we use? And… it narrows Type… “and race” Search: Adoption and race Result: 21 titles

15. Results Screen Narrowing the search with “and”

16. Results Page narrowing the search with “and”

17. The Power of And cont’d Adoption and race and… Africa Adoption and race and… Great Britain Adoption and race and… South America Adoption and race and… Jamaica _________ Adoption and race and America Results… 5titles

18. Book record showing subject headings at the bottom

19. Select subject heading from list Interracial Adoption – United States

20. Results:17 articles based on Interracial Adoption – United States