Librarian's Guide to Online Searching (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this Internet age, database users soon learn how invaluable search strategies and effective search skills can be in the quest for information. This book suggests ways to obtain these skills while providing a general introduction to searching online environments. Starting with historical background, the author discusses database structure--records, fields, and indexes--and continues exploring basic search concepts, including Boolean logic, controlled vocabulary, proximity searching, and truncation. Subsequent chapters focus on commercial databases in specific subject areas. Other chapters examine information-seeking behaviors, reference interviews, database evaluation, and teaching others about databases. The content is practical, user-friendly, and enhanced by screen shots, exercises, and supplementary materials. Full of helpful advice and insightful commentary, this text is an outstanding reference tool. Sean Kinder
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“LG covers the basics that haven't changed over 35 years, even as the interfaces have altered dramatically. Good snline searchers, reference librarians, and library instruction librarians still need to know about file structure fields, Boolean logic, proximity, truncation, indexing, etc. Bell covers this nitty-gritty....Students may be overwhelmed at first, but the advice reflects Bell's experience as an academic reference librarian: don't be afraid to take on even difficult and scary challenges, such as finding numeric data or helping someone search a system that you don't know very well....[v]aluable for its general approach, underlying explanations, and strategies. These don't change regardless of the vagaries of specific systems. That's what we must focus on when we teach search.”–Library Journal

“Many librarians will admit that online searching is one of the more pleasurable and rewarding professional activities. This book makes the process all the more enjoyable and is a thoroughly comprehensive and intelligently compiled work.”–Online Information Review, 31,6

“This is a really good and comprehensive textbook which covers all relevant aspects of online retrieval and bridges a gap in the market. For academic libraries this book is a must-have... For library schools, it is recommended to use as a textbook in class in the undergraduate studies.”–E-LIS

“This guide is useful to librarians and library science students wishing to increase their online searching skills. This book can serve as a resource to help improve searching databases....As budget limitations are being announced for libraries, librarians will need to evaluate and justify database subscriptions or renewals of these resources. Index. Recommended.”–Library Media Connection

“In this Internet Age, database users soon learn how invaluable search strategies and effective search skills can be in the quest for information. This book suggests ways to obtain these skills, while providing a general introduction to searching online environments. Starting with historical background, the author discusses database structure-records, fields, and indexes-and continues exploring basic search concepts, including Boolean logic, controlled vocabulary, proximity searching, and truncation. Subsequent chapters focus on commercial databases in specific subject areas. Other chapters examine information seeking behaviors, reference interviews, database evaluation, and teaching others about databases. The content is practical, user-friendly, and enhanced by screenshots, exercises, and supplementary materials. Full of helpful advice and insightful commentary, this text is an outstanding reference tool.”–Booklist/Professional Reading

“It is obvious throughout this volume that the author works in the trenches and knows the subject matter. The information given is basic in the right places and more complex when necessary. It would be a useful tool for pre-librarians or working librarians, and the early chapters would be helpful to the general researcher.”–VOYA

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited; 1 edition (August 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591583268
• ISBN-13: 978-1591583264
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #537,216 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read Great Information!, September 29, 2008

By	A. Herren "alexiah100" (Fort Worth TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For those who are in the dark about Boolean operators, wildcards, and databases online this is the book for you. The book breaks down the search prcess and begins with the essentials for online searching then moves to database navigation then to types of databases and finally how to review and and teach others. Great illustrations and examples are found in the book as well as questions to answer at every chapter.

While the material is basic, it is the essentials that are needed for great online searches and helping other find the information they need. After reading and studing this book, I find that my search success has increased greatly and I will keep this book for future reference.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Book--If You Have Database Subscriptions, October 6, 2009

By	William Corsair "Will" (Leavenworth County, KS USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I felt that I was deceived by the marketing hype around the book.

This is a very well written book. The author claims that the book will help the everyday person do a better job of searching. While that may be true, she spends a great deal of time going through specific search techniques on databases which require pricey subscriptions.

Sorry, but this book wasn't as much help as I'd thought. Better titles include Mary Ellen Bates' books, since they're for a professional researcher who doesn't necessarily reside in a public library with access to fee-only databases.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Textbook, September 22, 2008

By	Penni Rose - See all my reviews

I was glad that I could find this book through Amazon, and it arrived in the condition as described. This item arrived within the 7 to 10 dayshipping period. I was happy that it did not take longer, as I had it in time for my class. :)