This document discusses search strategies for library databases, including subject headings, keywords, and Boolean operators. It covers: - Subject headings are controlled vocabulary terms that categorize items, allowing easier searches. Library of Congress subject headings are commonly used. - Keywords are flexible terms for searching but are less precise than subject headings. Identifying keywords involves making your topic a question and noting significant terms. - Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT allow combining keywords to broaden or narrow searches effectively. AND is automatically applied, while OR expands results and NOT excludes terms.

1. Word Searching
Athens State University Library

2. To be covered…
• Subject Headings
• Keywords
• Boolean Operators

3. Subject Headings
• Subject Headings are terms drawn from a controlled
list of words or phrases, each carefully selected and
defined to describe a specific item or concept.
– act as categories
– also called descriptors, index terms, thesaurus terms, or
controlled vocabulary terms.
• Allows for easier searching of catalogs/databases
• A catalog record will always contain the proper subject
heading for the item.

4. Library of Congress Subject Headings
• Most libraries use the authorized list of
subject headings developed by the Library of
Congress.
– List updated every year

5. Library of Congress
Subject Headings website

6. Search for water bottle

7. Individual Record
• Notice the
– Variants
– Broader terms
– Exact Matching
– Closely Matching

8. Keywords
• Official Subject Headings are very useful, but
often you will also need to have a list of
Keywords available to add to your searches.
You want to make sure that you have found all
the best sources of information for your paper.

9. Activity: Branching (hot potato)

10. Keywords are…
• Flexible terms
• Easy to use
• Less accurate to search with
• The language we use in everyday speaking.

11. Identifying Keywords
• Take your topic and make it a question…
• Now in that question identify the significant
terms in your question.
• These terms are the keywords you will use to
search for sources.

12. Identifying multiple keywords allows
for more flexibility.
• Other ways to find
keywords:
• Identify the synonyms
and antonyms to your
keywords
• Use a thesaurus
• Use database tools like
descriptors and subjects
• Brainstorming
• Reading about your topic
in encyclopedias, books,
articles, online

13. Activity: Mystery Bag
• Your group will come up
with a list of one word
descriptors of what is in
your bag.

14. Searching with Keywords
• To search effectively you will need to use more
than one keyword.
• To use more than one keyword you will need
to us Boolean Operators.

15. Boolean Logic
• George Boole, in 1854
published “The Laws of
Thought” which
contained an essential
component to the
information age….
• Boolean Logic is the
basic logic that EVERY
program uses to
retrieve search results.
– Even if you don’t put it in
the computer does!

16. Boolean Operators
• Three basic operators used are:
AND = Combine
OR = Broaden
NOT = Exclude

17. Automatic Use by Computers
• AND is automatically used by Google and other
search engines to combine terms.
• Sometimes a program will use a + or – to
substitute for AND or NOT
• Use the Keyword Worksheet to put together your
search BEFORE you sit down at the computer.

18. Adding Keywords
• Use keywords
– Descriptors:
• The words that are most
important to your search
• Use with Boolean
operators
– AND
– OR
– NOT

19. Exercise
• Shuffle and Deal