This document provides guidance on searching databases through EBSCOhost, including how to limit searches through selecting specific fields, using Boolean operators such as AND and OR, and conducting advanced searches. It offers examples of effective search strings and directs the user to contact the library for additional assistance with searching as there are many options available to refine results.

1. PART 1: INTRODUCTION
PART 2: ACCESSING AND LOGIN
PART 3: SEARCHING
PART 4: SEARCH RESULTS & RECORDS
LIBRARY INFORMATION LITERACY
USING THE
DATABASES

2. LIMIT SEARCH
Different databases in EBSCOhost allow you to limit your
search in particular ways. (If you feel overwhelmed by all
the options, don’t worry: “search all” is always the default.)

3. ADVANCED SEARCHING
ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials even allows you to
search by scripture chapter and verse! Just make sure that
you select the database directly—it won’t be an option if any
other databases are active.

4. SEARCH FIELDS
 The most basic way to limit your search is by selecting a field from
the drop-down menus by the search boxes. If you are searching ALL
the databases, you will only get 8 options. Some are self-
explanatory, others less so.
 All Text will find your search term ANYWHERE in the resource and
the record. This is a good option to choose for a very specific term
that is in the actual article or book but might not necessarily be
broad enough to be a subject in itself.
 Subject Terms will find your search term within the list of clickable
subjects in the resource record. These are usually terms that are the
main topic or theme of the text.
 Abstract will find your search term within the author’s abstract for
the resource (for an article) or within the published description (for
an eBook).
 In general, eBooks have fewer searchable Subject Terms than
articles, so you may need to select All Text or Abstract instead, or
leave the search field blank if you want to find more results.

5. Another way to limit your search is by connecting
search terms. Your options are in a drop-down menu to
the left of the search windows.
 AND searches for all the words or phrases you type in.
 OR searches for either of the words/phrases. Beware: in searches for
three or more terms connected by AND and one OR (e.g. social justice AND Old
Testament OR patriarchy), using the OR will search for anything combined with
AND against the OR term. So in the example, results would be anything with both
social justice and Old Testament, OR anything with patriarchy.
 NOT searches for one word/phrase but not another.
BOOLEAN OPERATORS

6.  Here’s a sample search. You want to find resources on social
justice in the Old Testament but you don’t want anything to do
with prophets, murder, or money. So your search would look
something like this:
 This search yielded 38 results, which you can then refine.
 If you also added OR ethics, for instance, your results would be
for anything with all your first 5 search terms OR anything with
ethics.
CONFUSED?

7. QUESTIONS?
FIND MORE INFORMATION ON OUR E-CAMPUS
COURSE, LIB101.
Please contact us if you’re still wondering how to find
what you need!
Call: 215.368.5000 x123
Email: library@biblical.edu