My experiences when searching the library databases.

In the library that I work in, we had new library management software installed late last year, the search facilities on the system at present are limited and quite frustrating. So when I began watching the tutorials this week and searching through the suggested databases I was amazed at what I was able to find.

I looked at Primo, EBSCOhost and Proquest and found that all were quite straight forward and easy to navigate.

I found an interesting article in Primo on Resource-based learning, but as I continued through the tutorials I found that I liked the format of EBSCOhost and thought it would be easier to keep all my information in one place. I discovered that I was able to search the title of the journal article that I had found in Primo and save it to my folders that I had set up in EBSCOhost. I realise I may not always be able to do this but when I can, it will help me stay organised.

I have tried using advanced search options before and have never had much more success than when I use the basic search options, however the tutorial explanations of key word searching or subject searching, correct use of the combining operator and the use of truncations to enable different forms of a word to be searched simultaneously, made using the advanced search option somewhat easier to manage and obtain more specific results and the highlighted search fields made choosing which results to peruse much easier.

The peer reviewed option in Proquest also enabled me to narrow my results. In Proquest I was also able to narrow my results by choosing which databases to search in.

I am sure as I continue to search through the databases as I study that I will discover ways to enhance my searching skills.

My dilemma now…..which one to read first?

Edited 14/3/2013 to add - I just found too that by clicking on Cite in Proquest, that it would give me the exact reference listing for me to cut and paste to my reference page!