SEARCH STRATEGIES

ATLA ONLINE

Authorization Number: call Reference desk 404/687-4620

Password: or email: ref-desk@CTSnet.edu

Library research is a process of NARROWING and BROADENING one’s topic—

to find information and refine the topic—a circular, reciprocal endeavor.

Re-think one’s research interest and abstract a one word or short phrase descriptor.

Determine KEYWORD or SUBJECT descriptor as succinctly as possible to return the most useful hits

(always ready to narrow or broaden with revised terms, descriptors, limiters, author links).

Consider synonyms and alternate expressions.

Stick with it in the search engines/indexes until it requires expansion or compression.

NB: “keyword” searches word-use anywhere in a record;

“subject” means controlled vocabulary, e.g., LCC subject headings.

KEYWORD searches return the most (and mostly unhelpful) hits.

Good for starting broad topical inquires.

Note: SUBJECT search must match the exact LCC subject heading.

To search by author or title: input as much as is known (name, title) and choose, under Keyword, AUTHOR or TITLE.

To narrow the choice, if the full name/title is known, choose AUTHOR PHRASE or TITLE PHRASE.

(Otherwise, the search does a keyword return of every last and first name).

Choose the best-looking hit and double-click on it to open.

Good strategies for obtaining similar information (same authorship, similar subject) is to double-click on the highlighted author’s name for everything by that author (with that spelling and date) or double-click on the highlighted DESCRIPTORS to find items by other authors on the same topic.

Note: BOOLEAN searches can be done from the advanced search screen.

CAUTIONS:

Authors’ names often have multiple spellings with or without initials.

For Dissertations use WorldCat.

Also, search for authors by Keyword in case one is listed only in notes of a polygraph.

Watch for IN YOUR LIBRARY icon (but don’t always trust it or its absence).

BONUS:

WorldCat and ArticleFirst, for books and articles, respectively, can be accessed from ATLA FirstSearch by changing the database choice. No need to exit and enter through Galileo.

Make use of LIMITERS on the bottom of the search screen: English, In Library, Type of Record, etc.

SCRIPTURE & SCRIPTURE CITATION PHRASE—use browse symbol on right of search box to find numbers of hits per chapter and verse. Note the books of the Bible are listed alphabetically (not canonically) and chapter/verse numbers are in “computerese” not sequential—i.e., Genesis 10 comes after Genesis 1. 2 (two) follows 19.

Results: from ATLA, ArticleFirst or WorldCat –10-20 useful hits is the optimum.

Broaden (with descriptors or revised keyword) or Narrow (using limiters or revised keywords) as necessary

Try making Plurals singular and Singulars plural.

Wrap short two/three word phrases in quotation marks to be more specific:

“confessing church” rather than confessing + church

Use synonyms: “gay” and/or “lesbian” for “homosexual”

Use simpler terms for more hits: “Church” for “ecclesiology”

Browse Index buttons for “range” of (mis)spellings, scriptures, “nearby” terminology.

Expand Record by clicking on title to determine usefulness and study descriptors.

Mark Record, if useful, before changing search descriptors in ATLA/WorldCat formats.

Marking can prove stubborn: marked records remain from all searches in a session—

remember to CLEAR once printed or emailed.

Print/Email results –emailing is good for building a printed bibliography without retyping.

Citations may be printed “FREE”; Full Text printing/copying = 5¢ per page.