WebSPIRS Search Hints
 		  
 
Tips
Pressing Enter is like clicking the main action button (such as Search, Go to Term, or Print).
Get Full Text next to a record means it has links to easy ways to see the full text

Which Search?

  • Use Search for a search as simple or complex as you like.
  • Use Advanced to combine search terms and specific fields.
  • Use the Index to locate specific terms within a database.

If available with the databases you are searching:

  • Use Suggest (on the Search page) to get suggested alternatives to your search terms.
  • Use the Thesaurus to search using the database's controlled vocabulary.
  • Use the Database Table of Contents to look up and display full text records.

If you perform a complex search, or the same search regularly, save your Search History to use it in future sessions.
 
  Search Examples
  Single term:
dyslexia
  Term or phrase in a specific field:
smith in au
  Term or phrase in a limit field:
py>1995 or la=german
  Term with truncation or wildcards:
comput* colo?r
  Previous search number:
#3
  Number (in " and "  if equal to previous search number):
"2", "#5"
  Letters and numbers combined:
3m
  Phrase:
new york city
  Phrase with hyphens:
drug-abuse
  Phrase with operator in " and  ":
"near" death experience
  Multiple terms combined with operators:
dog or puppy or canine
  Any of the above, grouped with parentheses for clarity: 
(dog or 1) near puppy