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Library Instruction for Liberal Arts |
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Social SciencesLibrary Guide for Searching America: History & Life
This guide is designed to help students use America: History & Life. The tutorial will include a description of America: History & Life, use and purpose of the database, proposed search approaches, and information on how to obtain material indexed by the database. Description America: History & Life indexes approximately 500,000 bibliographic entries from more than 2,000 history journals and magazines, dating from 1954 to the current year. Much of the database focuses on providing journal article citations and abstracts, and citations to book reviews. However, the database also provides citations to dissertations, media, selected collected works, and links to articles found in nearly a dozen e-journals. Use and Purpose America: History & Life is the most comprehensive history journal index provided by the NSU Library. Some of the material indexed by this database will be available either in the Library's print collection or on a Library full text database. However, a significant number of the items found on America: History & Life will require the use of interlibrary loan services, which will be briefly discussed at the end of this tutorial. |
Searching
(The below illustrations are nonworking. To utilize the features described and illustrated below you will need to log onto America: History & Life.)
The default search screen on America: History & Life includes both keywords and subject terms search boxes. While the default search screen can be quite useful for conducting quick searches on the index, the "Advanced" search screen provides a variety of powerful tools which can be used to zero in on a topic. To utilize the advanced search option click on the "Advanced" button on the initial database screen (see below).
There are many options and features available on the "Advanced" search screen, including keywords, subject terms, authors/editors, document types, journal names, time periods, and others. To learn more about what each special feature or search option includes click on the appropriate open book icon, or open the user's guide found under the "Help" button in the upper right hand corner of the database screen (see below).
To exemplify some of the features available on the "Advanced" search screen, let's look for articles dealing with the French and Indian War. In order to avoid guessing which subject term America: History & Life may use for this topic, it is best to search the term by clicking on the open book icon to the right of "Subject Terms" (see below).
Next, in the subject terms "Browsable Index" use the "Find Terms" search box to enter the phrase French and Indian War. Then, click enter (see below).
Notice below that there are three terms associated with this topic (see below), including one that uses the plural form of the name of the conflict, or "French and Indian Wars" (as opposed to "French and Indian War"). To make sure that all three possible terms are included in the search, place a check mark in each appropriate box, and then click on the "Add Checked Terms To Your Search" button .
As seen below, by following the above steps, the three valid subject terms have been added to the search box, even though the text of all three is not immediately visible.
Next, click on the "Search" button. In the below search results example notice that 345 items were retrieved. This screen shot example shows only the first citation of the set containing 345 items.
It is important to note that had the term "French and Indian War" been searched as a subject without the use of the "Browsable Index," the database may have found far fewer citations.
Another useful feature found on America: History & Life is the ability to search for material by historical period. In many instances, searching by time period, either by itself or in combination with a subject or keyword, can help focus the results. To perform such a search, click on the open book icon to the right of "Time Periods" (see below).
It is important to keep in mind that the "Time Period" feature on America: History & Life is based on decades, not individual years. To illustrate the usefulness of this feature, let's say there is an interest in finding articles on Andrew Johnson during the 1860's. Below is an example of how this information might be used to construct a search. First, click on the open book icon to the right of the "Time Periods" (see above). Next, type 1860 into the "Find Terms" search box, and press enter (see below).
Then, place a check mark in the "1860D" (or 1860's decade) box, and click "Add Checked Terms To Your Search" (see below).
The next screen shows that the decade has been added.
The next step is to search for "Andrew Johnson" as a valid subject term. Utilizing the "Subject Terms" "Browsable Index" feature, click on the open book icon to the right of "Subject Terms" (see above), and search the name Johnson Andrew on the next screen (see below steps).
Step 1: Type the name (last name first) in the search box and press enter (see below).
Step 2: Place a check mark in the box next to "Johnson, Andrew" and click on the "Add Checked Terms To Your Search" button (see below).
Notice in the below example that both the decade and name have been added to the search screen. Running this search will retrieve over 200 citations specifically dealing with Andrew Johnson during the 1860's.
When running searches it is highly probable that the results will include both articles and book reviews. This can be problematic if wanting to focus solely on articles, or if wishing to find only book reviews. America: History & Life provides a simple solution to including or excluding certain types of material, such as book reviews. To access this feature, place a check mark in the appropriate "limit to" box (see below).
America: History & Life can be particularly useful for researching topics covered in a specific journal. For example, if wanting to limit the search results to articles found only in the Chronicles of Oklahoma, return to the "Advanced" search screen and click on the open book icon to the right of "Journal Names." Enter Chronicles of Oklahoma under the "Find Terms" box on the next screen (which is the Browsable Index screen), and press enter.
On the next screen place a check mark in the box adjacent to the Chronicles of Oklahoma entry, and click on the "Add Checked Terms To Your Search" button.
As seen below, this automatically inserts the name of the journal in the "Journal Names" box, which, when combined with another search term, will limit the search results to articles found only in the Chronicles of Oklahoma.
When finished using America: History & Life, it is strongly recommended that you formally log off by clicking on the "logout" button in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Since there are a limited number of users which may be logged onto this database at the same time, formally exiting the database will enable someone else to use it. Logging off the Internet also exits the database.
Searching for Items Found on America: History & Life
At least three approaches can be taken in attempting to obtain the full text of the items found indexed on America: History & Life:
1. An article citation found on America: History & Life may be found in full text on another database. To find out if another library database provides an article in full text, search the periodical title (not article title) in the "Title begins with" search box in Serial Solutions:
2. If the above approach fails to retrieve the article in full text on another database, check the periodical title in the online catalog to see if the library owns a hard copy of the item.
3. If the item does not exist on another database in full text, and cannot be found on the library's online catalog, Interlibrary Loan services can be of assistance. To
learn about interlibrary loan policies and procedures, and for information
on how to utilize this service either on campus or as a distance education student, please contact the Interlibrary Loan office or the
resource coordinator listed below.
One key to using interlibrary loan services successfully is to start your research
early so that interlibrary loan requests will arrive in time.
On average, it takes about ten business days to obtain material
through interlibrary loan. However, keep in mind that the closer the lending the library is to NSU, generally the quicker the item will be received. Therefore, using the Oklahoma Union Catalog to help identify resources is a very effective way to obtain interlibrary loan items as quickly as possible.
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