Search Techniques

Truncation to Broaden Your Search
Use when there may be several forms of a word that are appropriate for the concept e.g. reduc* searches for reduce, reduction, reduces, reducing.
Use a truncation symbol – check the database help screen to determine the truncation symbol to use e.g. *, #, $, ?

Phrase and Proximity Searching
Proximity Operator: Phrase Searching "mechanics of materials" (Check database help screen for treatment of stop words (such as "of").
Proximity Operator: NEAR e.g. mechanics near materials.

Boolean Searching
AND - Use “AND” between two concepts to retrieve articles that contain both concepts e.g. mechanics AND materials.
OR - Use “OR” between two words to retrieve articles that may contain one or the other words. Use OR if there are alternative words, (usually with similar meanings) to use to express a concept, e.g. computer AND (modeling OR simulation).
NOT – Use “NOT” to eliminate articles that contain a specified concept or word. e.g. NOT (IEEE or IEE) to remove most duplicates from an INSPEC search when you are searching IEEE Explore as well.

Field Searching
Fields are designated parts of the bibliographic record for an article, e.g. title, author, abstract, journal title, subject, main heading, controlled term, descriptor and you can limit a search to only retrieve articles that have the search term in a specified field of the record for the article.

Basic Tips

Search a variety of types of information – researchers’ Web sites, technical reports, dissertations, conference proceedings, journal articles and books, etc.
Use a variety of periodical indexes as appropriate for the topic and aspect of your research.
Formulate keywords for searching.
Formulate a search statement using keywords, phrases, Boolean Logic, truncation and field searching.
Examine the set of results and modify your search statement and keywords and phrases to obtain more/better results – FOR EACH INDEX.
If your search results in too many or too few and not relevant results, use techniques to:
Narrow (find fewer) a search or
Broaden (find more) a search
Make your search more precise.

Miscellaneous

Representative Encyclopedias

Encyclopedia of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering 2 vol. ENGR REF R857.M3 E63 2004

Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Technology (TOC and abstracts are online) 11 vol. LOVE REF TA402 .E53 2001

Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering 23 vol. ENGR REF TK9 .W55 1999

Copyright, Citations, Fair Use
How to Secure Permission toUse Copyrighted Works http://www.copyright.iupui.edu/permsec.htm

How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ22.html

Fair Use http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter9/index.html and http://www.educause.edu/content.asp?page_id=645&PARENT_ID=393&bhcp=1
From the University of Minnesota Copyright Information and Education Web site:
Four Factors of Fair Use: <http://www.lib.umn.edu/copyright/checklist.phtml>
Factor #1: Purpose and character of the use
Factor #2: The nature of the copyrighted work
Factor #3: Amount and substantiality of the portion used
Factor #4: Effect on the potential market for or value of the work

Proper citation of an Internet source: APA Style (from the 5th edition, 2001 of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association)

From the APA Web site Electronic References section http://www.apastyle.org/elecsource.html#71
examples are given for proper citation of:

1. Internet articles based on a print source
2. Article in an Internet-only journal
3. Article in an Internet-only newsletter
4. Stand-alone document, no author identified, no date
5. Document available on university program or department Web site
6. Electronic copy of a journal article, three to five authors, retrieved from database

If you use screen shots from a .gov Web site, you must cite them!

Check out this important Copyright Information from the Virginia Tech University "ETD" (Electronic Theses and Dissertations) Web site: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/crightflier.pdf. Contains advice about signing agreements with publishers and about using someone else's copyrighted works in your dissertation or thesis.

Patent Searching

Among reasons to do patent searching are the following:
(1) To find information about an area that is a candidate for a utility (based on usefulness) patent. Often there is an early insight into groundbreaking accomplishments in an area that are not published elsewhere.
(2) You have an idea and you want to see if there is a patent out there that is related to your idea. You will want to do a "prior art" search (search for granted patents in the same area). This search can only be considered a complete search if you are searching for all patents in the class(es)/subclass(es) related to your idea.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office Web site <http://www.uspto.gov/> will only provide keyword searching for patents back to the early 1970's. Keyword searching may be appropriate as a method for locating information (1) and may assist the searcher in finding a class/subclass to search (2).

Espacenet ep.espacenet.com/ - search European, Japanese, and Worldwide Patents.

The UNL Engineering Library is a United States patent and trademark depository library and has access to WEST – the database used by the USPTO patent examiners.

Other Searching and Assistance

Search Google – http://www.google.com/ choose Advanced Search

Search Google Scholar - http://scholar.google.com choose Advanced Scholar search.

E-prints are considered part of the grey literature. They are "rough drafts" of articles that will be submitted to a journal for publication. They can be found on the Internet, through servers that are specially set-up to accommodate authors in certain fields (for example, high-energy physics and energy).

For personal assistance with your information researching, contact me, Virginia Baldwin, at vbaldwin2@unl.edu, 472-3412. This kind of assistance is part of my job description!

RefWorks

RefWorks
http://refworks.com/ or access from http://iris.unl.edu/


1. INTRODUCTION. RefWorks is a web-based bibliographic reference manager that can be accessed from any Mac or PC computer on or off campus.

RefWorks features:

• Accessible anytime, nearly anywhere
• No special software required
• Compatible with multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac and Unix
• Easy to disseminate bibliographies online, or to collaboate with geographically disparate colleagues to create a bibliography
• Compatible with numerous online resources
• Upgrades automatically
• Compatible with non-roman characters (Japanese, Arabic, Chinese)

What it does:

• Helps you create the bibliographies for your papers
• Automatically formats your citations or references in Chicago, APA and other styles
• Creates a personal collection of reference sources
• Organizes and manages your citations. Search for duplicates feature. Sort citations and file citations into folders. Add citations to multiple folders.
• Imports citations from article databases, such as INSPEC, IEEE/IEE Electronic Library, SciFinder Scholar, Compendex, Google Scholar. Can customize so database and date appear on the citation record.
• Allows you to share references with groups, classmates and colleagues
• Uses the Write-N-Cite utility to pull citations into your paper as you type
• Keeps a database of index terms so user can search by author, keyword, and periodical indexes.
• Has a global edit capability
• An individual may create more than one account

2. CREATE AN ACCOUNT

1. Select a log-in name and password. BE SURE TO SELECT YOUR USER TYPE AND FOCUS AREA – FOR UNL STATISTICS PURPOSES
2. Personalize your account. Under “Tools”, select “customize” to change user information. IMPORTANT: CHANGE DEFAULT SOURCE TO ELECTRONIC
3. Accounts are portable after graduation. Under “Tools”, select “Backup/Restore” to save all of your files, then set up a new account at another location. Cost for a personal account is $100, or your new affiliation may provide access. Advisable to backup once a month or more, in case you accidentally delete your citations.
4. Off-campus access UNL group code: RWUNebLin
5. Space allocation: 1 gig per reference set

3. USE THE TOOLS

RefWorks Tutorial
Quick Start Guide
RefWorks FAQ
Instructions for Exporting from UNL Databases

4. BASIC REFWORKS RECORD

References are obtained by:
1. adding a new reference
2. importing a reference from a database
3. importing a reference from another citation manager.
You can use the “Notes” field on the record to make annotations for reference organization, such as whether you have the paper, where it is, whether you have read it, ordered it through ILL, etc. (for imported records, click “Edit” from the reference list). Be sure to annotate on the record the following for full text articles from databases: DOI (digital object identifier), Database name, and retrieved date. These may be required by the citation style specified by your publisher. Always record the retrieved date and the title of the Web page when you view a Web site that you might ever be used in a citation. Always cite all sources, whether you find them on the Internet, or use a thought in a printed source, etc.

5. CREATE A FOLDER AFTER IMPORTING. From added or imported records, select items to go to specific folders. If a user deletes a folder, the references in the folder are not deleted, rather they go into the "references not in a folder" folder Pay attention to pop-up boxes - to avoid deleting references - do not automatically select OK or YES.

6. CREATE A BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Bibliography—Select Output style—“preview” will give examples if needed
• Format a bibliography from a list or folder
• Decide type of format html, text, Word
• Select folder
• Select “Create a Bibliography”
• Copy/Paste bibliography

7. RefShare —allows you to share your references. RefWorks creates a Web page with a PURL (Persistent URL). Under “Folders”, click “Share Folders”.

Uses of RefShare

• Post class reading lists on a central Web page
• Provide easy access to information for disparate researchers collaborating on a project
• Create and share databases of frequently-requested reference queries by topic. Can post comments on references
• Provide a linkable database of research done by specific faculty members
• Publish an internal database of references for easy sharing within your community

Benefits of RefShare

• Facilitate dissemination of information by having a central Web page for the posting and access of research information
• Provide collaborative research environment using the capabilities of easily accessible data via the Internet
• Enables the seamless sharing and exchange of information
• Allow easy transfer of information between RefWorks databases
• Centrally post frequently-needed databases of materials for research queries, class assignments, or research review
• Provide easy remote access to research and collaboration globally

8. OTHER FEATURES:

1. Add RSS feeds
2. Can add images – if available online, it is better to just include the URL to avoid copyright infringement.
3. “Format Paper and Bibliography” —allows you to download a Word application so that you can insert references from RefWorks.

Basic Access

1. START YOUR SEARCH WITH THE UNL LIBRARIES’ ONLINE CATALOG AT http://iris.unl.edu. The online catalog can be accessed from on or off campus. You can search for books on a specific topic using a number of search categories. To find full-text online books [ebooks] via the Libraries Catalog: Click on Catalog, select EBOOKS under "Material Type:", then enter a search term. On the same Web page is a link to “E-Resources,” which can lead you to articles on a topic in journals, conference proceedings, and other sources. Browse categories of interest. Use WorldCat to search for books on a topic in libraries throughout the world.

2. REQUEST MATERIALS. If as a result of your search you find a book, article, or conference proceeding, owned by the Libraries, you may use the “Request” button on the right side of the screen to have the book sent to the library location of your choice. Use the “Interlibrary Loan” (ILLiad) service to request an item if it is not available through the UNL Libraries. ILLiad is the electronic system to Request delivery of material. ILLiad allows you to do status checks and renewals of material borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. First-time users must create a free ILLiad account.

******Questions about ILLiad and your requests?******
Interlibrary Loan is staffed 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday-Friday
Email: ill1@unlnotes.unl.edu 402-472-2522 (phone) 402-472-5131 (fax)

3. MY LIBRARY. Set up and customize your own IRIS interface. Your personal access will then allow you to:
Renew Materials
See messages from the library
Manage saved searches
Request items
Review checkouts
See past checkouts

4. SEARCH FOR ARTICLES. Listed below are SOME of the significant article indexes available through the UNL Libraries. You may access these indexes by selecting the “E-Resources” link in the online catalog. To find other article indexes browse the categories under “Search by Category”. Some journals are available electronically through the UNL Libraries; you may find those by using the “Electronic Journal Finder (TDNet)” from the main page. Most journal article indexes/databases have a Request via ILL (ILLiad), Additional Resources button, etc., allowing you to transfer data directly into a request.

Most of the indexes below have links for full text, when available at UNL, or links to request an article, conference paper, etc.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ARTICLE INDEX

Web of Science. (Science Citation Index). Index of science and engineering journals. Find information about journals, authors and articles that are cited by other researchers. Link is “Additional Resources”. Web of Science supplies the EndNote citation manager to every licensed user; it does not support RefWorks. However, you can save selected records to field tagged, file type file, then log into RefWorks and import the file specifying ISI and Web of Science.

GENERAL ENGINEERING ARTICLE INDEX

Compendex Web/Ei Compendex Plus. Commands the entire spectrum of engineering, in depth, with abstracts from over 2,600 international journals, conference papers technical reports, and more. Updated weekly. Link is “Additional Resources”. RefWorks: Select items, then “Download”. Select "RefWorks direct import".

SPECIALIZED ENGINEERING ARTICLE INDEXES

METADEX. Materials science database. Coverage: raw materials, refining, processing, welding, fabrication, end use, corrosion, performance, recycling and more. Materials covered: all metals, polymers, ceramics and composites. From search results screen, “Find UNL Full Text & Print” goes to options screen for obtaining article, and “Request Through ILL” goes directly to the ILLiad main screen. RefWorks: Click in box to select items, and then click on the RefWorks button.

SCIFINDER SCHOLAR. Integrated, user-friendly, point-and-click access to Chemical Abstracts Service databases. Use for any information needs regarding chemicals, materials, compositions of products, etc. Buttons to the right of each citation link to the detailed record/options for obtaining the full text.

INSPEC. Contains more than 4.7 million citations. Abstracts to worldwide literature of physics, electronics and electrical engineering, computing and control, and information technology. Primary coverage journal articles, conference proceedings, books, technical reports and dissertations. Use the built-in, online thesaurus to more precisely identify a research term as a designated subject heading in INSPEC and do a more precise search. From the search results screen, the link is “Check UNL Catalog & Additional Resources”. If full text is avaibable at UNL, there will be an “HTML/Links to Full Text” link under the citation. RefWorks: Add items to folder, click on “Folder has items”, then click “Export”. Select the “Direct Export to RefWorks button, then click “Save”.

IEEE /IEE Electronic Library (IEL), IEEE Explore. Indexes, abstracts, and full-text of transactions, journals, magazines, conference proceedings and standards of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) and IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers) publications back to 1988 with select content back to 1952. There is a Full Text button link under each citation. No RefWorks link at this time, but you can select items, “view selected items”, then under “Download Citations” at left select ASCI text, download, then import to RefWorks. Select RIS Format as the data source and IEEE/IEL as the database.

OTHER SPECIALIZED INDEXES

PapersFirst. Indexes articles in conference proceedings in all fields, including engineering and the sciences. To obtain a conference article, from the results list, click on “See more details for locating this item”. Follow the links under “Get this Item External Resources”. First check the UNL catalog. If UNL does not have the conference proceedings, use the “Request via ILL” link” to order it through InterLibrary Loan. RefWorks: Select (mark) items, click on “Marked Records”, Click “Export” and choose “RefWorks” under “Export to”. Click “Export”.

Dissertation Abstracts. Indexes doctoral dissertations and some theses in all fields. Same interface for obtaining the item and exporting to RefWorks as in PapersFirst.

Digital Commons. This is the name of the UNL institutional repository. It highlights working papers, journal articles, dissertations, and theses of UNL affiliates.

UNL Dissertations Online. Choose "e-Resources" on the IRIS screen http://iris.unl.edu/. Under “Search by Category”, select “Dissertations & Theses”. Full text access is available from campus or through the proxy server. To have your thesis or dissertation available online when you are no longer affiliated with UNL, deposit it in the Digital Commons as well as submitting it for UNL dissertations/theses.

5. SEARCH MULTIPLE DATABASES. By selecting the link listed as “Multi-Search (for UNL),” you will be able to search in multiple databases (article indexes) at one time. Although this is not an exhaustive search, it will assist you if you tend to do the same search in more than one database. It can also give you an idea of what databases will give you results for your search topic (where to start).

6. REMOTE ACCESS WITH YOUR NUID NUMBER. At http://iris.unl.edu/ when you click on a link to an e-resource, a logon screen will ask for last name & NUID.

7. ASK A QUESTION, LIVE ONLINE. A reference librarian is available to assist you with your search questions, 24/7 through an email interface at http://iris.unl.edu/, top right of screen, “ASK A QUESTION”.

8. TRY GOOGLE SCHOLAR at http://scholar.google.com/ to locate unpublished scholarly works.

9. SEARCH THE PATENT LITERATURE at http://www.uspto.gov/ for United States patents, and http://ep.espacenet.com/ to search other patenting authorities. UNL Engineering Library is a United States Patent And Trademark Depository Library and the Engineering Librarian (Virginia Baldwin) can provide patent searching assistance.