Three search techniques reviewed in a 3 minute video:

• using AND, OR, NOT
• quotations
• truncation *

OR statements are very handy for taxa and geographic searches, because information isn't "indexed" in hierarchies. OR is usually used to connect synonyms, but you can use it to sweep in all relevant taxa or geographic locations.

For example: monterey OR "central coast" or "santa cruz"  The quotes force the two worded locations to be searched as a phrase.

Another example: archaebacteri* OR methanobacteri*  The truncation * finds various endings (like bacteriA and bacteriUM) and saves you time!

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  Displays in databases that only describe the sources (these usually only include citations and abstracts). Use it to find links to the full item or request it through interlibrary loan.