Steps for Finding Information on Your Topic

Step 1. Choose your search terms. You will add to your list as you search and evaluate your search results. We start with the words in bold, and come up with the following table of synonyms (we sometimes find that we need to exclude certain words, which is why there is a not column - it wouldn't otherwise appear in a query).

Water	Chemistry	Model	NOT
water	chemistry	model	ocean
aqueous	chemical	models	marine
hydrochemical	hydrochemical	modeling	sea
hydrochemistry	hydrochemistry	modelling
hydrodynamic(s)	chemicals	computer program(s)
hydro*	geochemistry	Fortran program(s)
groundwater	geochemical	mathematical model
ground water	geochemi*	software

Step 2. Define your search strategy. (This will partly depend on the search engine you use).

• Search tools:
  • Boolean Searching: and, or, not (and not, but not)
    
  • Truncation: as a general rule, an astersist (*) works, but it depends upon the database.
  • Nesting

• Example of a complex search strategy:
  (water or aqueous or hydro* ) and (chemi* or geochemi*) and (model* or computer program* or simulation or software)

• Example of problems using truncation: rock* (returns rock and rocks, but also rockets, rockers, etc.)

Step 3. Choose your database

• GeoRef
  • Available via the Web EBSCOhost:
  • Indexes geological information published from 1700's to present; includes government documents
  • Searching:
    • Boolean: and, or, not
    • Truncation: *
    • Nesting
    • Fields: "in ti de ab"
• Current Contents (CC Search)
  • Available via WebSPIRS and WinSPIRS
  • No limit on number of users
  • Indexes thousands of journals in all disciplines
  • Updated every few weeks
  • 1996 through present
  • Searching: same as above

• Ingenta Uncover
  • Available from http://www.ingenta.com/
  • Indexes thousands of journals in all disciplines
  • Updating is sometimes slow
  • 1988 through present
  • Searching:
    • Boolean: and, or, and not
    • Truncation (right hand only): *
    • Nesting
  • Disadvantage: Sometimes not consistently up-to-date.

• U.S. Government Documents
  • Available via WebPALS (go to the library homepage and click the WebPALS button)
  • No limit on number of users
  • Indexes material distributed to Depository Libraries
  • Search the same way as all PALS databases
  • Boolean "and" is assumed between terms
  • Truncation: #
  • The Government Documents are on the second floor and available for check-out. Also, be aware that not all of our Government Documents are cataloged. Ask the Physical Sciences Librarian or the Documents Librarian how to determine if NDSU has a particular document.

• FirstSearch databases:
  • Available via the Library home page or: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/FirstSearch/
  • Databases include: Environment, AppSciTechAb, and Geobase.
  • Truncation: + (plural and singular only)
  • Disadvantage: Only two "or"s allowed in a search; make sure the correct fields are selected for your complete search (watch the defaults!).
  • Sample search: (water or groundwater) and (chemistry or geochemistry) and model+

• Many other databases are available. Take a look at: Electronic Databases

Step 4. Conduct your search

Step 5. Evaluate search results, note additional terms and unwanted terms.

Step 6. Refine search and re-do.

Step 7. Find out whether NDSU has the material; if not, use Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

• To find out whether NDSU has a particular book, use the online catalog.
  
• For journals: First search for the journal title using the library's electronic journal page. If it isn't available on the Web, you will want to see if NDSU owns a physical copy of the journal in question. Use the library catalog.
  
  HINT: limit your search to serials (format), title (search type), and type the title as written, and enclose it in quotation marks. For example: "Bulletin of the Geological Society of America"
• For ILL, fill out a card at the ILL desk, or fill out the online form at: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ill/. You might also consider a trip to UND to use their materials. If you plan to go to the Geology Branch Library, call before going; they are not open as many hours as the main library at UND.

Other:

• Library Home Page: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/
• Geoscience Information Resources: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/subjects/physci/geopage.html
• Selected Government Document Resources for Geology: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/subjects/physci/geosudocs.html
• GSA Style Guide: http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/contrib.htm#S5
• References in AGU Publications: http://www.agu.org/pubs/references.html
  
• AGU Tips and Tools for Authors: http://www.agu.org/pubs/inf4aus.html
  

Please come see me if you need any help. If you'd like to make an appointment, contact me by phone (231-1050) or e-mail. If I'm not available, check at the library reference desk (231-8886) for someone else who will be able to help.

Physical Sciences Librarian
NDSU

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