Learn the basics about searching for books and articles using the SUNY Adirondack Library's website!

1. SUNY Adirondack Library
Research Tips
 This slide show will:
 orient you to the library’s website and
 show simple database search tips.
At any point, contact a librarian for advice and help!

2. First:
choose a
topic!
Talk to your instructor or a Center for Reading
and Writing tutor to brainstorm some ideas.
We’ll use the topic of steroids as an example:
Let’s say you want to research steroid use
among baseball players, and its impact on
young baseball fans.

3. Go to the library’s website
(http://library.sunyacc.edu).
Enter a subject and click the Books button.
 It searches more than 100 library databases for books, electronic
books, articles and streaming videos. Limit your search to Books,
etc. if wanted.
 These are subscription services. From off-campus, log on with
your SUNY Adirondack username and password when prompted.

4. Our search finds 561 print and electronic books mentioning
steroids. You can read or borrow any of these.
To limit the search to print book, click the “Circulating” choice.
• To use a print book, come to library and borrow it for four weeks.
• To use an electronic book, click the link and log in.
• Ask a librarian for details.

5. Next, let’s use the Articles limit for current
and detailed information about steroid use in
baseball and its impact on fans.
Click the Articles button for this search.

6. Click the Advanced Search link to get to
this screen, which lets you add more specific
search terms.
(Note: “ZT Article” means the database will search only for articles.)
You could also use truncation, a search technique
that uses the asterisk symbol (*) to look for endings of
a word: steroid* will find steroid, steroids, steroidal,
etc. It saves some guesswork!

7. Scroll through your results to check for the
best search terms. Here’s one result:
You may want to change your search words to Baseball and
Anabolic steroids, or perhaps use a broader idea: Doping in
sports.

8. Narrow your search by adding another subject or two.
The database provides the word “and” to help you do that. Using “and” is
called Boolean logic, named after English mathematician George Boole
(1815-1864).
Did we hit a home run with that search? See the next slide…

9. You be the judge! Are these results useful?

10. To see the actual
articles, click the
“Full Text” link. You
can print or
e-mail the listings.
Refine your search by
adjusting the date
range.

11. Consider using
Research by
Subject
research guides!
Research by Subject links:
• save you time
• recommend specific sources for
popular assignments;
• are written by SUNY Adirondack
librarians who specialize in those
topics.

12. • Once you’ve read through your research, visit the CRW.
• They’ll help with research paper drafts, citations and
more.
• Make an appointment through the CRW website.
Center for Reading and Writing:

13. 1) Choose and develop your topic
Talk to your instructor and visit the CRW!
2) Find background information
Select Books to find books, e-books, reference book chapters.
3) Find current information
Use the Articles button. Add more subjects.
4) Cite your sources!
Go to the Center for Reading and Writing!
Research Steps Review :

14. Database Search Tips
Review:
 Use the search words the databases use.
 Try truncation (*) to find all word endings.
 Overlap search words with and to narrow your
results (Boolean logic)

15. Questions?
 Ask a librarian for help
with your specific
research topic. There’s
lots more to know.
 Librarians are available
to answer your
questions whenever the
library is open!