FirstSearch

Searching via Athena

OCLC has removed telnet access to FirstSearch databases and is using only the web interface.

For a text-based interface, type
add infoagents; lynx
at the Athena prompt. Navigate to Libraries > Resources > Vera > FirstSearch database of your choice. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Truncation

The truncation symbol + permits searching for a word and its plural form of -s or -es. The symbol * permits searching for a word and variations by entering a minimum of the first 3 letters. The wildcard # represents a single character. The wildcard ? alone or with a number represents zero or more characters. Wildcards can be used at the middle or end.

• mammal+ = mammal and/or mammals
  
• psychi* = psychiatric, psychiatrist, psychiatry, psychic
  
• wom#n = woman, women
  
• colo?r = color, colour, colonizer, colorimeter
  
• colo?1r = color, colour, but not colonizer or colorimeter

Type L to limit the search by year(s), publication type, or language.

Downloading Searches

Open an emacs window and cut and paste:

• highlight text to be copied with the left mouse button
• move cursor to emacs window and click middle button
• go back and forth between windows.

The emacs window can be closed and printed as a regular file.

This page was last updated on 09/18/07