Sample Search-Applied Science and Technology Index

The following steps outline the process of searching and retrieving information from one of OhioLINK's Research databases, Applied Science and Technology Index.

Starting to search...

Start at OhioLINK's homepage.

Click on Research Databases.

From the Subject list, click on Science and Technology.

Click on Applied Science and Technology Index.

Updated monthly, this database provides citations and abstracts to articles from more than 400 engineering, science, and technology journal and industry publications since 1983. Some of the subjects covered include Chemical Engineering, Plastics, Chemistry, Metallurgy and Environmental Engineering.

Knowing how to begin to search can make a difference in the amount of information retrieved.

The most common starting point is a SUBJECT search. This is a CONTROLLED vocabulary search which mandates the system to retrieve only records that match your search term against the subject field of the record.

When you start with a SUBJECT search, the search results may vary because of the rigidity of the vocabulary in the SUBJECT field. You must choose a search term that EXACTLY reflects the language in the record. You may say "aspirin" and I say "salicylic acid."

A better choice for starting to search is to selectWORDS.

A WORD search allows the system to search WHEREVER the word or phrase appears in the record. Consequently, you may retrieve records that are not exactly what you want; it will be necessary to careful review your search results to identify titles that match your search requirements.

Try this yourself. Using "salicylic acid" perform a SUBJECT search and then perform a WORD search with this same phrase.

Notice how many titles you retrieve when you perform the SUBJECT search (30+ titles) versus the WORD search (50+ titles).

The most effective searching starts with a WORD search and uses the search results to identify the most appropriate SUBJECT headings within a record.

Try this yourself:

Select WORDS and type in your search term(s)by. Press ENTER.
Browse through the list of titles retrieved.
Select one of the titles that best meets your informaiton needs. Click on the titles to see the full bibliographic record.
Then, notice the words or phrases in the SUBJECT field of the record.
From the SUBJECT field, pick the WORD or PHRASE that best meets your information needs.
Start a new search, select SUBJECT and type in language found in the SUBJECT field..
By using this search process, you should retrieve a group of titles that will be relevant to your information needs.

Retrieving the search results

Let's start again using "salicylic acid" as a WORD search.

Click on WORDS

Type in the phrase, salicylic acid. Press Enter.

The search results shows 53 titles with the WORDS, salicylic acid.

Twelve titles can be browsed at one time.
You can browse the entire list by using the buttons on the top or bottom of the screen.

To view ONE title, select and click on the title.

The citation will include the abstract (or summary).
And, allows you to check to see if your institution actually has the journal.

To see if your institution has the journal, click on the phrase:

Click here to see which OhioLINK libraries have this journal

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The University of Toledo does NOT own every journal that you may retrieve. You will want to check to see if Univ. of Toledo is listed as owning the title. And, if UT does own the title, you need to find out where the title is being shelved.

To see if UT owns the journal title requires a 3 step process:

1.) First check to see if Univ. of Toledo is listed in alphabetical order.

2.) If Univ. of Toledo is listed, then make sure UT has the volume and year that you need.

The screen may look like:

V. 231 - 1987-

This notation designates the FIRST volume and year Carlson Library owns. It also indicates the title is STILL BEING BOUGHT.

v. 45-86 ; 1953-1994

This notation designates the volumes and years that Carlson Library owns BUT means the library is NOT LONGER buying the title. The Library started buying the title with volume 45, 1953 and continued to buy the title until it stopped buying the title with volume 86, 1994.

3.) AND make sure to check where the title is physically being shelved. This will save you time running around campus and up and down the various floors of Carlson Library.

Locations can be:

Current Reading Room (located in the lower level of Carlson Library keeps the most recent issues in alphabetical order)

Carlson Periodicals (2nd floor has titles starting with the letters A through N ; 3rd Floor has titles staring with the letters O through Z)

Carlson Microfilms (located in the lower level of Carlson Library)

Bowman-Oddy Reading Room (located in Room 2059, Bowman-Oddy Building)

Important note:

IF University of Toledo is not listed, you can order the article through a free service called, Inter-Library Loan (ILL).

Complete the form .
Plan ahead!!!! It can take up to take TWO WEEKS to get the article.
You will be notified when the article arrives.
You will need your UT Rocket card to pick it up at the Circulation Desk at Carlson Library.

You can continue to select records that meet your information needs by using the NEXT RECORD button on the top or the bottom of the screen.

Choose more than one record from your search results since the University of Toledo does not have every journal title. It's always a good idea to choose more than you think you need!

Applied Science and Technology Index allow for all levels of searching skills. As you become more comfortable with this database, you can start to LIMIT your search to retrieve more precise results.

By using the LIMIT/SORT button (located on the top and the bottom of the screen) you can make your search more focused. When selecting a LIMIT, you can use only one LIMIT or you can choose all the LIMITS. The LIMIT buttons allows you to narrow your search for better results.

You can further LIMIT by year by clicking on ANY.
You can further LIMIT by AUTHOR, SUBJECT, or WORDS in the TITLE.
You can further LIMIT by LANGUAGE.

Be resourceful when you are searching. Try different terms or words or phrases until you find the information you need!

Allow enough time! Finding useful information takes some time - time to practice, time to explore, time to discover!

Like any skill, the more you search, the better you get.
If you have questions on searching, the results you retrieved, or locating the article, please let me know.

Send Comments to:glenn.lipscomb@eng.utoledo.edu