Using OCLC FirstSearch
FirstSearch is a Web-based information system for searching online databases. A database is a collection of related resources on a specific topic or from a specific source. Each entry in a database is called a record.
FirstSearch screens and functions
Move through FirstSearch screens and functions using the navigation tabs. Each
tab displays context-sensitive links for additional options. For example, in the
figure below, the List of Records screen displays as the active option
on the Results tab. The Detailed Record and Marked Records
options appear as links to additional screens that are also available on the Results
tab.
Check the control panel below the navigation tabs for status information and
specialized tools such as Sort and Help.
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Additional tip:
- Click the Help button
to browse the context-sensitive online help in a pop-window.
Selecting a database
FirstSearch provides three options for selecting a database on the Databases
tab:
- The List Databases by Topic option groups databases by topic area.
- The List All Databases option displays a merged list of all databases.
- If you need help selecting a database, use the Suggest Best option
to scan databases for your key search term(s). You can then select the databases
that contain the highest estimated results for your key term(s).
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The Database list
Select—Click the checkbox in front of each database you would like
to search (up to three). A default database may be pre-selected. If you do not
want to include the default database in your search, click the checkbox in the
first column to de-select it.
Est. Results—Displays estimated results for key terms (appears
only on the Suggest Best screen).
Database—Displays the name of the database. Click to search in
just one database.
Description—Displays a short description of the database.
Info—Click the Info button 
to view detailed information on the database.
Updated—Displays the date on which the database was last updated.
Full text—Displays the Full Text 
icon if online full text is available.
Searching
Basic Search
The Basic Search screen allows you to search the main indexes in a database.
Use the Basic search if you are new to online searching or if you need quick results
using a simple search statement.
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Advanced Search
The Advanced Search screen lets you construct more complex search statements.
Up to three search strings and three indexes can be combined using Boolean operators
( AND , OR , and NOT ) selected from drop-down menus. More
search limits are available at this level.
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Expert Search
The Expert Search screen is designed for experienced searchers who prefer to
enter logical search strings. Reference information on constructing a search is
displayed at the bottom of the screen. A list of indexes and index labels is provided
in a single drop-down menu. For example, to search for all resources related to
coffee that are written by Elizabeth Alston, you can enter alston
elizabeth and kw:coffee and select the author index from the drop-down menu.
The author index will apply only to the unlabeled terms alston elizabeth.
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Other search features:
- Browse the indexes to verify the correct spelling or format for search terms.
Click the Index button
to access the Browse Index feature.
- Browse subject headings to find additional terms that may apply to your search.
Click the Subjects button
to access the Subject Headings list. This feature is available only in certain
databases.
- Use ranking to organize the results of your search. Available options vary
by database.
Search statements
Search statements are made up of search terms combined with special search characters or labels and Boolean operators.
| Building search statements |
|
To search for |
Use |
Example |
Results |
| subject information |
any word or words |
frost |
many results (common word) |
| sangfroid |
few results (rare word) |
| categories of information |
index labels |
su:sleepti:once |
subject sleep, once in titles |
| exact phrase |
quotes " " |
"tunnel vision" |
tunnel vision |
| plurals |
plus sign + |
plant+ |
plant, plants, plants', plant's, plantes, plantes' |
| variants or part of a word |
wildcard *, #, or ? |
zebu* |
zebu, zebulon, zebutte |
| all words |
AND |
cold AND zinc |
cold and zinc |
| one or all words |
OR |
cold OR zinc |
cold, zinc, and cold and zinc |
| one word but not another |
NOT |
cold NOT weather |
cold but not cold weather |
| words near each other, given order |
w |
cold w2 common |
cold followed within 2 words by common |
| words near each other, any order |
n |
cold n3 common |
cold and common, within 3 words of each other |
| Using index labels |
|
Use an index label and |
when your search includes |
Examples |
| colon ( : ) |
individual words or fragments of phrases |
kw:airline security |
| search operators (w or n) |
kw:alcohol w2 fetal |
| other special search characters, such as the plus sign (+) or asterisk (*) |
ti:(ocean+ or sea+) and pollut* |
| equal sign ( = ) |
exact phrases as in names and titles |
ti=alice in wonderland |
Using search results
Viewing a detailed record—To view a detailed record from the List
of Records screen, click on the record title. To return to the List of
Records screen, click the List of Records link on the Results tab.
Viewing full text—The Full Text button and full text format information
appear with any record for which full text is available online. Click either the
button or the format information to see the full text.
Sorting records—Click the Sort button to select sort options for
a set of results containing 500 or fewer records. Sort options vary by database.
Related records—To find related records, click the Related Authors
button 
or Related Subjects button 
.
Limiting results—To narrow your set of results, click the Limit
button and select from the list of database-specific limits.
Marking a subset of records—Click the checkbox for each record
you want in your subset. Use the Mark All button to mark all records on
a page or the Clear Marks button to unmark all records on the list. Click
the Marked Records link on the Results tab to view, e-mail, or save..
Printing—Click the Print button to reformat a page of results
for printing. Use your browser's print function to print. Click the Return
button 
to return to the original format.
E-mailing—Click the E-mail button to e-mail records, library ownership
information, or full-text copy.
Exporting—Click the Export button to export data directly to bibliographic
management programs such as EndNote® or RefWorks™. Data can also be exported
as text files to ProCite® or similar programs.
Library ownership information—The My Library Owns icon 
and the My Library Group Owns icon 
are displayed with any resource that your library or library group owns. Click
the Libraries button to view a list of libraries that hold a particular
resource.
Interlibrary loan—On the Detailed Record screen, click the ILL
button to request an item through interlibrary loan.
Librarians' Toolbox:
