Understanding Research

Finding Books

ODU Library Catalog info

OhioLINK Library Catalog info

Finding Articles

Let's Do Some Keyword Searching!

In each case below, read the scenario provided. Then follow the directions to do your searching in the ODU Library Catalog. (Please note that when you click on the link to the library home page below, you will be directed to a new browser window.)

Search #1: Using AND

You are interested in doing a paper that concerns the broad topic of youth in our criminal justice system, but you're not sure yet how you want to narrow that topic. So you turn to the ODU Library Catalog to find some books on the topic.

Let's do the search. Your broad topic is YOUTH IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. From the Library home page, click on Books, since you're looking for books. Then enter your Keyword search: youth and justice.

The catalog will find any record that contains both YOUTH and JUSTICE anywhere in that record. Click on the title of the 1st record. You will see that both words appear in the title of chapter 16 of that book.

Search #2: Phrase Search

You are interested in doing a paper that concerns the broad topic of campus residence life, but you're not sure yet how you want to narrow that topic, what aspect of residence life you want to focus on. So you turn to the ODU Library Catalog to find some books on the topic.

Let's do the search. Your broad topic is RESIDENCE LIFE. From the Library home page, click on Books. Then enter your Keyword search: "residence life"

The catalog will find any record that contains the phrase "residence life" anywhere in that record. Take a look at the list of items you see. Notice that "residence life" is in two of the titles. That is why those items came up in your search. Click on the title of record #2 to see why that book came up. You will see that "residence life" is in the title of one of the essays within that book.

Search #3: Using OR

You are interested in doing some research on NATO. So you turn to the ODU Library Catalog to find some books on the organization.

Let's do the search. Your broad topic is NATO. Go to the library home page and click on Books. To make sure you find as many relevant books on NATO as possible, you want to search for either the acronym NATO or the full name of the organization. So enter your Keyword search: NATO or "north atlantic treaty organization"

The catalog will find any record that contains either NATO or "north atlantic treaty organization." Take a look at the list of items you see.

Next: When and How do I Search by Author