2. Research Guides

HART 2200 - Cities of the Ancient Mediterranean World: Architecture and Built Environments - Robinson

Search Tips

1. Use AND to combine terms

example:  Athens AND Hadrian

2. Use OR to search related terms

example:  Mosaic OR Pavement

3. Use NOT to exclude terms

example:  Atlantis NOT "space shuttle"

4. Use $ to truncate a word and return all possible endings

example:  Myth$

(searches for all variants of the word myth e.g. myth, myths, mythology, mythological...)

Conquering Call Numbers!

I've got a call #, now what?

Image of a call number label

 

Click the link below for more information.

Vanderbilt Library Search

Vanderbilt University Library Search

Selecting the best search scope for your research needs:

Everything vs. Library Catalog vs. Articles

Search Scope What is included? When should I use it?
Everything
  • Broadest search scope
  • Results will include books and ebooks, articles, and media like DVDs
  • A great option when you are just beginning your research process.
  • Use Everything when you want to survey the research landscape for your topic
Library Catalog
  • Focuses on VU owned items, physical and digital
  • Results will include books and ebooks, and media like DVDs
  • Digital collections like the TV News Archive will also be included in your results
  • You have defined your information needs
  • Use Library Catalog when you are ready to create a tailored search for your topic
Articles
  • Content from selected VU databases
  • Popular and scholarly articles
  • Use Articles to find popular and scholarly articles on your topic.
  • The Articles scope does not search across all databases accessible to the Vanderbilt community.
  • Not finding the articles you need or want more database options?

For a more detailed explanation of your search scope options consult What am I searching?

 

Keyword vs. Subject Searching

Step 1:  Start your search process by brainstorming a list of keywords that describe the main concepts of your topic or question.

Step 2:  Use these keywords for your initial searches.

Step 3:  Use the Subject Heading links in the Library Catalog record to refine your search.

Useful Library of Congress Subject Headings

Try a SUBJECT begins with search using one of the Library of Congress Subject Headings listed below:

Art, Roman       Architecture, Roman
Sculpture, Roman   Mural painting and decoration, Roman
Urbanization Rome   Tadmur (Syria) Antiquities
Cities and towns Rome   Excavations (Archaeolog) Syria
Dura-Europos (Extinct city)   Excavations (Archaeology) Turkey
     
Subjects: Art, Classics