Airport Campus
Telephone:
803.822.3530
Hours:
M-Th: 8:00am to 9:00pm
F: 8:00am to 1:30pm
Beltline Campus
Telephone:
803.738.7629
Hours:
M-Th: 8:00am to 9:00pm
F: 8:00am to 1:30pm
Harbison Campus
Telephone:
803.407-5005
Hours:
M-Th: 8:00am to 9:00pm
F: 8:00am to 1:30pm
Batesburg/Leesville Campus
Telephone:
803.604-1639
Hours:
M-Th: 8:00am to 2:00pm
F: 8:00am to 1:30pm
Library 
What is a search strategy?
A search strategy consists of planning how you will look for information. One step includes choosing the words that you will use to search for your information. This handout will show you how to formulate a search strategy that will help you find the information you need.
Steps to creating a search strategy:
Ask yourself what kind of information you need.
| Type of Information | Sources | Where to Look |
| Current or up-to-date information | Journals, magazines, newspapers, | Electronic databases (Infotrac, MLA, LexisNexis, CINAHL, Facts on File, Proquest, Sirs) |
| Internet | Search engines (Google, Yahoo etc.) | |
| Comprehensive or broad treatment | Books | Library catalog or browse the shelves |
| Overview/background | Books, encyclopedias | Library catalog, reference section |
1. Also, you should ask:
Do I need scholarly information or general interest/current event information? This will determine the types of books and articles that you need to find and/or the type of electronic database you use.
In what subject area will I find my information? This will help determine the type of electronic database you use. Use the library's "Choosing the right database" chart to assist you.
2. Identify key concepts in your research question.
For example, in the question, "How has literature been influenced by Southern culture?" the key concepts are literature and Southern and culture.
3. Think of alternate words that can be used to describe the same concepts, i.e. synonyms, plural/singular forms, spelling variations.
| Concept | Alternate words |
| Literature | Fiction, books, writings, poetry, novels, drama |
| Southern | South |
| Culture | Life, society, civilization |
4. Combine words using Boolean operators.
| AND | Use to narrow a search; searches for items with both terms |
| OR | Use to broaden a search; searches for items with either term |
| NOT | Use to exclude words; finds items that do not include the specified word |
For example:
literature AND Southern AND culture
(poetry OR fiction) AND Southern AND (society OR life)
(fiction NOT drama) AND Southern AND (society OR life)
Things to Remember
Books are shelved together in subject areas. If you find a useful book on the shelf, there will probably be another one on the same topic nearby.
The library catalog and many electronic databases (i.e. Infotrac, LexisNexis, etc.) have subject headings or descriptors attached to their book records or citations. If you search again using these terms you will find records on similar topics.