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| A
Brief Guide to Library Search Catalogs and Databases |
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by
Gregory C. Lewin
There are
a number of databases and catalogs at the UVa library that
can be used for performing literature searches, including
VIRGO, the online library catalog, several internet accessible
search catalogs, and powerful CD-ROM catalogs such as the
Science Citation Index. For your initial literature search,
you might want to concentrate on two UVa provided databases,
VIRGO and WebSPIRS. For information about other search engines
and resources, consult a librarian or attend one of the many
short courses provided by the University.
Remember,
the best way to discover the usefulness of the library databases
is to experiment with them. It is practically impossible for
you to do harm to the computer databases, so don't be intimidated
by them if they seem complex or non-intuitive. Try various
options, and if they don't work out, try again.
| VIRGO |
The
main database of books and other materials carried by
the UVa library is called VIRGO. VIRGO is accessible from
any campus computer and any home computer with access
to the world-wide-web (WWW). VIRGO can be searched by
subject, title, author, or keyword. Keep in mind, however,
that VIRGO only holds book and journal titles; it does
not contain titles of individual journal articles, a large
part of the science and engineering literature.
To
use VIRGO: (choose link above, or follow these instructions)
1)
Enter VIRGO
a)
From a library computer, navigate to the main windows
library page (students will inevitably leave the computers
in library programs too numerous to list here. Simply
exit them by using on screen commands or ask a librarian
to help you). From the main library window double-click
on the VIRGO icon.
b)
From a home or campus computer, start your favorite
web browser and enter the address http://www.lib.virginia.edu/.
Choose the option for "VIRGO-Catalog and Indeces"
under the heading "Reference and VIRGO," and
then click on the VIRGO button to enter VIRGO.
2)
Once in VIRGO, you can enter the search criteria by
subject, title, author, or keyword. Simply type the
search criteria in the appropriate box.
3)
Click the Search button. It is not necessary to be extremely
specific in your search, although this will help narrow
the choices. If your entry is broad, VIRGO will return
a list of related headings that you can use to automatically
narrow the search. Click on the proper heading for a
new list. When you get a list of books, the list will
contain the title, author(s), call number, and other
information for each selection. Be sure to note the
library where the volume is located, since the world
does not, in fact, revolve around Clark Hall.
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| WebSPIRS |
WebSPIRS
is one of many searchable databases for journal and magazine
articles. It provides access to over 350 journals carried
by UVa.
To
access WebSPIRS: (choose link above, or follow these
instructions)
From
the main VIRGO page (see above), select "Other
Databases" at the top of the screen.
Select
either "Engineering and Technology" or "Science
and Mathematics" from the list of choices. Each
option will give you a list of databases, including
the WebSPIRS database.
Choose
WebSPIRS from among the options.
Select
groups of databases to be searched by clicking the boxes
in the list (e.g., there are five options under "Engineering
and Technology").
Press
Search.
Enter
the words to search, using AND and OR and NOT to separate
words (e.g., ground AND source AND heat AND pump)
Select
where to search (e.g., Title or Author) and click Search
When
the search is finished, a summary is provided in the
form at the bottom of the page. Click on your search
to see the results.
For
complex searches, you may combine simpler searches using
the box at the bottom of the page.
Note:
WebSPIRS only gives you the name of the journal, not
its location. You will need to use VIRGO to find the
call number for the journal (recent journals are shelved
alphabetically on the main floor of the Science and
Engineering Library).
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Other
On-line Catalogs
(UVA Library) |
There
are a number of other on-line catalogs available to you
that can be used to search journals and magazines. Generally,
these are databases provided by third-parties to which
the library subscribes. Often, they search very specific
databases, which may or may not include many of the journals
held by the library. You will have varying success with
each of them, but once you become familiar with one or
two favorites, you will find them useful. |
On-line
Catalogs
(Science and Engineering Library) |
The
Science and Engineering Library has additional WWW resources
at http://www.lib.virginia.edu/science/.
From this page, choose Databases or Web Search Tools and
you will find a number of search engines. Again, some
work better than others-you'll have to try them to see
how each works. |
| Web
Searches |
One
of the easiest ways to find journal articles is a WWW
search. Often, if you choose your search terms correctly,
you can find pre-compiled literature catalogs maintained
by researchers your field of interest. |
| Science
Citation Index |
The
Science Citation Index (SCI) is probably the most powerful
journal search tool. It is stored on CD-ROM's and can
only be accessed from the library computers. For more
information on this and other tools, attend a library
short course.
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