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Welcome!
Welcome to the Thomas Cooper Library subject guide for Library and Information Science. Use the tabs above to find quality resources for librarianship and related fields. You can direct comments or questions about this guide to the Thomas Cooper Library Reference Department, uscref@mailbox.sc.edu .
The Libraries' liaison to SLIS is Jane Olsgaard, olsgaardjane@mailbox.sc.edu
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Searching Strategies
Think about what you are searching. Depending on what you are looking for your searches could be very different in a library catalog, online reference books (Gale Virtual Reference or Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science), a general article index (Academic Search Complete), or a subject specific index (Library Literature or Library and Information Science Abstracts).
Think of multiple terms and various possible word endings.
virtual reference, online reference, chat, instant messaging
homepage, webpage, web page, web site, web sites, internet
technical services, processing services, cataloging
Plural form often better than singular. Or allow for both by using a wildcard (also called truncation)
Constructing keyword searches
| and | both terms must be present internet and use studies |
| or |
either term may be present internet or web |
| ( ) | use if there isn't a search form when you have and and or in a search |
| use studies and (internet or web) | |
| * |
wildcard for variant endings, might be other symbols but * is usually a good bet |
| use* studies would find use studies, user studies |
Is there a thesaurus or can the database suggest subject words or descriptors? Start with a keyword search but analyze your results paying close attention to the subject words that have been assigned.
Less can be more. Concentrate on the key elements of your topic.
Reference Department |
 Thomas Cooper Library Reference Department Links: Profile & Guides |
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