TO ACCESS INFOTRAC FROM HOME:

1. Go to Brighton District Library's home page (http://brightonlibrary.info)
2. Click on Articles and databases
3. Click on Brighton District Library (or where your library card is from) and then click on GO
4. Click on Access InfoTrac
5. Enter your library card number, WITH NO SPACES, in the box and click on Enter

TO ACCESS INFOTRAC FROM THE BRIGHTON DISTRCIT LIBRARY:

1. Click on Magazine Indexes
2. Click on InfoTrac (fastest way from the library )

SEARCHING GENERAL REFERENCE CENTER GOLD:

From the First Home Screen

1. First screen of InfoTrac asks you to choose your database. Choose General Reference Center Gold.
• The search screen defaults to a subject search. If there is not a pre-defined subject term for your search, InfoTrac will automatically create a keyword search.
• When conducting a keyword search, you may use boolean operators and, or, and not. You may also use parenthesis to group items together.
  
  

  TO FIND: all articles mentioning the terms common cold and natural	USE: common cold and natural
  TO FIND: all articles mentioning the terms common cold and natural but not herb	USE: common cold and natural not herb
  TO FIND: all articles mentioning the terms common cold and either natural or herb	USE: common cold and (natural or herb)

  
  
• Advanced Techniques:
  • An asterisk (*) stands for any number of characters, including none, and is especially useful when you want to find all words that share the same root. Best used at the end of a search term.
  • A question mark (?) stands for exactly one character and is especially useful when you're uncertain of a spelling or looking for a variation of a word. Multiple question marks in a row stand for the same number of characters as there are question marks.

  TO FIND: all articles mentioning the terms common cold and herb or herbs or herbal	USE: common cold and herb*
  TO FIND: articles containing woman and women	USE: wom?n
  TO FIND: all articles containing psychology and psychiatry	USE: psych????y

  
  
2. Select either a Topic or a Database from the In: drop-down list by single clicking the scroll arrow.
   • If you do not know which database to use, you may select a topic area to have FirstSearch scan all the available databases. The results report the estimated number of matches in each database on the screen. You can then select up to 3 databases to complete your search.
   • If you know which database you want to search, select that database, and a list of records that match your search will be displayed.
   • If you do not select a topic or a database, but type search terms in the Search for: dialog box, FirstSearch will search in the General topic area.
3. You will then receive another screen asking which kind of search you are doing: keyword, title, or author. In most cases you will be doing a keyword search. You may also choose whether you want hits ranked by date or relevance.
4. You may limit or expand your search by clicking on the appropriate buttons at the top or the screen.

From the Advanced Search Option

1. To conduct a more advanced search you must first choose a database.
2. All searching options above still apply. There are other options to limit searches depending on which database you're in. Look at the help screen for

ONCE YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LIST OF ARTICLES:

1. Click on hyperlinked article title to see entire record (abstract, subject-headings, citation, link to full-text, and libraries that own this journal). You can mark this record, e-mail or print.
2. Click on View full-text to go right to the entire article. Again, you can mark this article, e-mail or print the article. NO IMAGES WILL BE INCLUDED WITH INFOTRAC ARTICLES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Use the Help Index link on the left hand bar.