databases. databases database searching database searching definition: a database is any organized...

DatabasesDatabases

DatabasesDatabases Database SearchingDatabase Searching DefinitionDefinition: A database is any : A database is any

organized collection of data that can organized collection of data that can be retrieved using organized search be retrieved using organized search procedures.procedures.

Phone books are databases of names, Phone books are databases of names, addresses and phone numbers.addresses and phone numbers.

– Organized alphabetically and use an Organized alphabetically and use an organized search procedure involving the organized search procedure involving the alphabet to retrieve data.alphabet to retrieve data.

– Yellow pages organized by subject, then Yellow pages organized by subject, then by alphabet.by alphabet.

DatabasesDatabases Database SearchingDatabase Searching Computerized databases present Computerized databases present

new problemsnew problems– C. databases are generally much larger than C. databases are generally much larger than

print ones.print ones.– There are few common conventions for There are few common conventions for

organizing and searching, so every new organizing and searching, so every new database is a new experience.database is a new experience.

– Unlike a phone book or the old library card Unlike a phone book or the old library card catalogue, you can’t really browse a catalogue, you can’t really browse a database well. Computers, being inherently database well. Computers, being inherently unintelligent, don’t always understand what unintelligent, don’t always understand what you want.you want.

DatabasesDatabases Database SearchingDatabase Searching Case: Librarian found remnants of a Case: Librarian found remnants of a

search on a computerized periodical search on a computerized periodical index database.index database.

– Database had over 1,000,000 journal Database had over 1,000,000 journal citations.citations.

– Searcher typed in keyword Searcher typed in keyword JohnsonJohnson, , resulting in 4,386 hits.resulting in 4,386 hits.

– What was worse, the searcher had What was worse, the searcher had actually started pulling each of the 4,386 actually started pulling each of the 4,386 entries in turn, looking for the right one.entries in turn, looking for the right one.

DatabasesDatabases Database SearchingDatabase Searching For retrieving information from For retrieving information from

computer databases, there are two computer databases, there are two basic search tools.basic search tools.

– Controlled VocabulariesControlled Vocabularies– KeywordsKeywords

DatabasesDatabases Database Searching—Controlled Database Searching—Controlled

VocabulariesVocabularies Most common controlled vocabulary Most common controlled vocabulary

system in North America is the system in North America is the Library of Congress Subject Headings Library of Congress Subject Headings system, used in most libraries.system, used in most libraries.

How did subject originate? headingsHow did subject originate? headings– Library of Congress (LC) predetermined the Library of Congress (LC) predetermined the

terms by which most things in the world would terms by which most things in the world would be called and organized these into alphabetical be called and organized these into alphabetical lists.lists.

– Some subject headings were easy: dogs are Some subject headings were easy: dogs are DogsDogs, sunflowers are , sunflowers are SunflowersSunflowers. .

LOCATION CALL # STATUS

Nichols Reference Z695 .L685 2004 v.1 CHECK SHELF





Author Library of Congress. Cataloging Policy and Support Office.

Title Library of Congress subject headings / prepared by the Cataloging Policy and Support Office, Library Services.

Edition 27th ed.

Imprint Washington, DC. : Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service, 2004.

Descript 5 v. ; 31 cm.

Contents v. 1. A-C -- v. 2. D-H -- v. 3. I-M -- v. 4. N-R -- v. 5. S-Z.

Note "ISSN 1048-9711"--T.p. verso.

Subject Subject headings, Library of Congress.

Subject headings.

Alt author Library of Congress. Cataloging Distribution Service


VocabulariesVocabularies– Some were more difficult.Some were more difficult.– What do you call senior citizens? LC chose What do you call senior citizens? LC chose

AGEDAGED..– TV faith healers are TV faith healers are HEALERS IN MASS HEALERS IN MASS

MEDIAMEDIA..– Why? Because LC said so.Why? Because LC said so.– That’s the point with controlled That’s the point with controlled

vocabularies.vocabularies.– These vocabularies are created by people These vocabularies are created by people

“out there” who then “out there” who then controlcontrol them. them.


VocabulariesVocabularies Rule #1: With controlled vocabularies, you Rule #1: With controlled vocabularies, you

have to use the subject terms provided by the have to use the subject terms provided by the system. No options are allowed.system. No options are allowed.

– Book titled Book titled Them TV PreachersThem TV Preachers may have may have the subject heading the subject heading HEALERS IN MASS HEALERS IN MASS MEDIAMEDIA..

– Book called Book called Active Seniors in Today’s WorldActive Seniors in Today’s World may be labeled with subject heading may be labeled with subject heading AGEDAGED..

– Neither book had any of the actual words of Neither book had any of the actual words of the subject heading in its title.the subject heading in its title.


VocabulariesVocabularies Rule #2: The actual wording of the data Rule #2: The actual wording of the data

record (book title or catalogue entry) is record (book title or catalogue entry) is not important for controlled vocabularies. not important for controlled vocabularies. Subject headings are assigned on the Subject headings are assigned on the basis of somebody’s judgment as to what basis of somebody’s judgment as to what the data is about.the data is about.

Advantages: I have 5 books with Advantages: I have 5 books with following titles:following titles:

– Terminal ChoicesTerminal Choices Choosing Life or DeathChoosing Life or Death– EuthanasiaEuthanasia The Practice of DeathThe Practice of Death– The Right to DieThe Right to Die


VocabulariesVocabularies All are assigned subject heading: All are assigned subject heading:

EUTHANASIAEUTHANASIA Presented with database to search, main Presented with database to search, main

problem is problem is retrieval.retrieval. Controlled vocabularies the solution.Controlled vocabularies the solution. Typing word into the computer and Typing word into the computer and

getting back a book list regardless of the getting back a book list regardless of the wordings of the actual titles.wordings of the actual titles.

That is what That is what controlled vocabularycontrolled vocabulary is is designed for.designed for.


VocabulariesVocabularies Rule #3: Use a controlled vocabulary as a Rule #3: Use a controlled vocabulary as a

search tool when you want a collection of search tool when you want a collection of data on the same subject regardless of data on the same subject regardless of what the data actually says about itself.what the data actually says about itself.

– Most libraries have an edition of the LC Most libraries have an edition of the LC subject headings in print or a microfiche subject headings in print or a microfiche edition.edition.

– Many databases can be searched only by Many databases can be searched only by keyword.keyword.

– The lack of a controlled vocabulary search The lack of a controlled vocabulary search option can be a disadvantage when all you option can be a disadvantage when all you want is a set of data on one subject regardless want is a set of data on one subject regardless of what the date says about itself.of what the date says about itself.

DatabasesDatabases KeywordsKeywords Rule #1: With keyword searching, Rule #1: With keyword searching,

what you type is what you get. The what you type is what you get. The computer cannot interpret your computer cannot interpret your request or give you the next best request or give you the next best solution. All it can do is identify the solution. All it can do is identify the words you ask for and give you the words you ask for and give you the related data.related data.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching A system to formulate searches A system to formulate searches

where two or more terms are used.where two or more terms are used. The “OR” CommandThe “OR” Command

– Want all information that has “cars” in it, Want all information that has “cars” in it, but know that some people say but know that some people say “automobiles.”“automobiles.”

– I tell the computer to look for I tell the computer to look for bothboth words words at the same time with the “OR” at the same time with the “OR” command.command.

– In a situation in which I am searching for In a situation in which I am searching for synonyms, I use the “OR” command.synonyms, I use the “OR” command.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching The “OR” CommandThe “OR” Command

– Another situation calling for an “or” search Another situation calling for an “or” search might be that in which two concepts are might be that in which two concepts are closely related, and you might expect data closely related, and you might expect data on either of them will be useful to you.on either of them will be useful to you.

– E.g., in search for “psychoanalysis,” you E.g., in search for “psychoanalysis,” you might be well advised to search as well for might be well advised to search as well for the father of psychoanalysis—Sigmund the father of psychoanalysis—Sigmund Freud.Freud.

– With the “or” search, one typically gets With the “or” search, one typically gets lots of hits.lots of hits.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching Rule #2: An “or” search is usually Rule #2: An “or” search is usually

for synonyms or for keywords that for synonyms or for keywords that are already closely related. With it, are already closely related. With it, you are trying to anticipate the you are trying to anticipate the various ways something might be various ways something might be described or approached.described or approached.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching The “AND” CommandThe “AND” Command One of the most profitable uses of One of the most profitable uses of

keywords is in combining topics to narrow keywords is in combining topics to narrow down a search.down a search.

E.g., a LC subject heading might=E.g., a LC subject heading might=“Mental “Mental Health—Religious Aspects”Health—Religious Aspects”

What if you wanted to look at information What if you wanted to look at information on relationship between prayer and on relationship between prayer and mental health?mental health?

A subject heading might let you down, but A subject heading might let you down, but a keyword would get you what you want.a keyword would get you what you want.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching The “AND” CommandThe “AND” Command

– The formulated keyword search would The formulated keyword search would look likelook like

prayer and mentalprayer and mental ororPrayer and mental and healthPrayer and mental and health

– A more complicated formulaA more complicated formulaprayer and mental and (health or illness)prayer and mental and (health or illness)

– The data will have The data will have prayerprayer and and mentalmental in it and in addition must in it and in addition must have either have either healthhealth or or illnessillness in it. in it.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching The “AND” CommandThe “AND” Command Rule #3: A keyword “and” search is Rule #3: A keyword “and” search is

used to search for data that relates used to search for data that relates two topics or concepts together. two topics or concepts together. The data found will show the effect The data found will show the effect of the relationship of these topics.of the relationship of these topics.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching The “AND” CommandThe “AND” Command Rule #4: “And” searches will narrow Rule #4: “And” searches will narrow

or limit your topic. Thus you can or limit your topic. Thus you can expect that you will not get as many expect that you will not get as many “hits” with an “and” search as with an “hits” with an “and” search as with an “or” search.“or” search.

– Adding more “ands” simply guarantees Adding more “ands” simply guarantees fewer hits.fewer hits.

– Outside of “or” searching, putting more Outside of “or” searching, putting more keywords on the screen leads to fewer keywords on the screen leads to fewer results.results.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching The “Not” CommandThe “Not” Command Back to looking for cars, the one Back to looking for cars, the one

type of car you’re type of car you’re not not looking for is looking for is any car made in Europe.any car made in Europe.

Formula=(cars or automobiles) not Formula=(cars or automobiles) not Europe*Europe*

– Have added the “not” and have done a Have added the “not” and have done a truncation on Europe (using an asterisk) truncation on Europe (using an asterisk) so the computer could look for “Europe” so the computer could look for “Europe” and “European” with a single search.and “European” with a single search.

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching ExceptionsExceptions

– Some databases want you to put your linking Some databases want you to put your linking words in capital letters—OR AND NOTwords in capital letters—OR AND NOT

– In some databases you can do an “and” In some databases you can do an “and” search simply by leaving a space between search simply by leaving a space between words, but other databases will see two words, but other databases will see two words as a phrase where the two words have words as a phrase where the two words have to be found together in that order.to be found together in that order.

– Internet keyword searches often use + and – Internet keyword searches often use + and – signs.signs.

– In some databases, “not” has to be In some databases, “not” has to be expressed as “and not.”expressed as “and not.”

DatabasesDatabases Keywords: Boolean SearchingKeywords: Boolean Searching ExceptionsExceptions

– Some databases ask you to put quotation marks Some databases ask you to put quotation marks around words that need to appear together.around words that need to appear together.

Complex Keyword SearchesComplex Keyword Searches– Some databases allow you to build your own Some databases allow you to build your own

search with a grid arrangement that allows you search with a grid arrangement that allows you to specify to specify what words in what types of what words in what types of combinations you want to searchcombinations you want to search..

Some databases and some search engines Some databases and some search engines are playing around with natural language are playing around with natural language searches; Boolean searches tend to be searches; Boolean searches tend to be more precise.more precise.

Information HierarchiesInformation Hierarchies– If I want to find my way through the If I want to find my way through the

information fog, I have to learn some information fog, I have to learn some theory about the way information is theory about the way information is structured.structured.

– Define: Define: ROCKROCK ““A hard object that comes out of the ground.”A hard object that comes out of the ground.” ““No, it is a verb.”No, it is a verb.” ““You’re both wrong. Rock is a kind of music.”You’re both wrong. Rock is a kind of music.”

– Words by themselves don’t really mean Words by themselves don’t really mean anything for certain. They only have a anything for certain. They only have a definite meaning when you put them in definite meaning when you put them in context.context.

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