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Database Search Strategies: Overview

Overview

The key to being a savvy online searcher is to use common search techniques that you can apply to almost any article database, online catalog, and even commercial search engines.

This is important because searching library databases is a bit different from searching Google.

The techniques described in this guide will enable you to quickly retrieve relevant information from the thousands of records in a database.

When you search a database and do not get the results you expect, ask us for advice.  Library staff are happy to help you find what you need.

Search Strategy

The following steps will help you formulate a search strategy:

  1. Identify key descriptors, relevant keywords, or phrases
  2. Brainstorm related terms or synonyms to expand your search syntax

Attribution

This guide was adapted with permission from a guide created by the MIT Libraries.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Pharmacy
Harlem Campus 230 West 125th Street New York, NY 10027 (212) 851-1199