SPC 1608 - Stein (Dale Mabry): Library databases

An HCC librarian demonstrates some typical databases

Most library databases, regardless of their subject area, work like the ones shown here:

Quick tips

• Library search tools often work best with just the most important, or key, words, and not long sentences or phrases.
  • One exception might be if the long sentence or phrase is the known title of a work you are hunting down.
• Try writing out how you would describe your topic to a friend, then pick the key words.
• Leave out words such as cause, effect, and comparison, unless these are part of a known title or technical term. 

This video demonstrates how to pick good key words:

Listen closely to the HCC staff member you interview. You may pick up keywords to use from what they tell you.

Here are some example search terms you might try, depending on your topic:

• STEM transfer
• Business marketing careers
• Veterans student affairs
• Athletes student affairs
• Criminal justice education
• Mental health counseling
• Career counseling
• Academic advising 

Try combining your search terms with other keywords that may help to focus your resutls, such as the following:

• college students
• community college