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FirstSearch Per Search databases can be accessed at the Library Text-based Catalogue. Choose A> Other Information Resources, and then F> FirstSearch to access over 35 databases of various disciplines. Only CUHK postgraduate students, research, teaching and administrative staff can use the service.

Counting searches

The University Library System has purchased a fixed amount of FirstSearch Per Search searches. FirstSearch Per Search service counts one search for each of these activities:

  • Sending a search word or phrase
  • Resending the previous search with a word or phrase added via the And action
  • Resending the previous search with different search limits
  • Selecting a word or phrase to search from a wordlist
  • Viewing or E-mailing an online article online. (This method counts as five searches.)

Selecting database
  1. Select the database you will use to find information. FirstSearch Per Search service provides a number of databases within each topic area.

    2.
  2. Search for the information you need with the Search action.

    3.
  3. To look in another database for the same information (or different information), type d (for the Database action).

Searching

Use the Search action with a label (au: for author, ti: for title, etc.) to perform your search. For example, type s su: computers to search for articles about computers. Type h labels to see an online list of valid labels.

Examples:

    s au:charles dickens (author search)
   s ti:baseball on broadway (title search)
   s su:investments (subject search)
Combining search words

You can combine search words using AND, OR, and NOT to make searches more pertinent.

 Use AND to find records that contain two search terms.
        Examples:
            s su:civil war and su:stone river
            (Find items about the Civil War and Stone River.)

            s au:updike and ti:rabbit run
            (Find items by author Updike with Rabbit Run as a title.)

  • Use OR to find records containing either one search item or another search term or both search terms. OR widens the scope of your search and it should be used with care in FirstSearch, because it can produce large sets of records.
        Examples:
            s au:smith or au:jones
            s ab:sports or su:college+

  • Use NOT to find records containing one search term but not another.
        Examples:
            s su:jazz not su:blues (Find items about jazz, but not the blues.)
            s au:updike john not ti:rabbit run (Find items by John Updike but exclude Rabbit Run as a title.)

Limiting your search results

Use the Limit action either before a search to limit the number of records retrieved by your search. This action lets you limit the results of your search by whatever the limits are for your database (Year, Language, etc.). To use the Limit action, type l before using the Search command.

Using plurals

You can expand your search to include plurals (s or es) and/or possessive forms by adding a plus sign (+) after the singular form of a word.

 Examples:
    s concerto+ (Find records with concerto or concertos as a subject.)*
    s ti:coach+ (Find records with coach, coaches, or coach in the title.)

*If you don't use a label with your Search action, FirstSearch performs a subject search.

Checking your spelling

Use the Wordlist action before you start your search to:

  • Check the spelling of a word
  • Check for variant spellings or word endings
  • Check how many records contain the word or phrase
  • Check for an exact author name, title, or other phrase
Examples:
    w au:hemingway (Check spelling of author name)
    w automation (Check the subject index for variant terms)
    w ab:censorship (Check for this term in the abstracts of records)
    w ti=american food habits (Check for an exact title)

Viewing records

  • When you enter a search, the results appear as a record list. To go forward or back one page in the record list, type Forward or Back.

    •

  • To see a Full Record Display form the record list, type the record number and press <Enter>.

    •

  • To return to the record list after you have seen a record, press <Enter>.

Printing and E-mailing records

Print     To print or download a record or to view a record online without surrounding text.
Email   To E-mail a record to an address you indicate.
To specify more than one record (up to 5), indicate record numbers or ranges of record numbers after p or e.
Examples:
    p 2,8,17-19 (Print records 2, 8, and 17-19)
    e 6,7,10-11 (E-mail records 6, 7, 10, and 11)

Viewing the full text of articles

Some FirstSearch databases offer the complete text of articles for online viewing.

  1. Type the Text action from the Full Record Display screen.

    2.
  2. If the article you want is available online, select the View or Email option.

    3.
  3. You will see the text of the article or a prompt to enter your E-mail address.

Ordering documents through FirstSearch

You can order a copy of an article as long as the Order action is displayed as an option on the Full Record Display.

  1. Type the Order action to order the document displayed on your screen.

    2.
  2. Select a delivery method from the Text Delivery screen.

    3.
  3. Select a document supplier form the Supplier screen.

Finding libraries that have an item

Use the LIBraries action to see which libraries have copies of an item described in a FirstSearch record. Type lib at the prompt on the Full Record Display screen.

Ó Copyright by OCLC Online Computer Library Centre, Inc.

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