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REL217: Islamic Traditions 2017: Searching Tips & Books

Where is everything?

Search our library catalog for books, e-books and films.  Remember, it searching Hollins' and Roanoke College's collection.  Be sure to look at the location code (HU = Hollins, RC = Roanoke College).  If you need something at Roanoke College click the "Request" button and it will be delivered the next weekday.  You can also use your Hollins ID to checkout books at RC.

WHERE:

  • HU-Reference books: located on the 1st floor of the library
  • HU-General Collection: located on the 2nd (P-Z) and 3rd (A-N) floors of the library
  • RC-General Collection: click Request this item for delivery in 1 week day!
  • E-Books: follow the link to read the book online!

Other places for Books

  • Worldcat - Find books in libraries worldwide

  • Google Books - Google Books contains full-text for books in the public domain and partial-text for books under copyright. Google Books can be useful for finding out which books contain information on your topic which you can then order them via interlibrary loan.

Brainstorming keywords

Library databases are organized around concepts and in order to effectively search a database you will need to use keywords that represent your topic.  When you begin your research first identify key concepts.  Once you know what those are you can begin brainstorming keywords.  Be sure to think of some keywords that are broader and some that are more narrow. 

 

 

Boolean Operators

Boolean operators help you when searching.  The most popular operators are: AND, OR, NOT.  

AND narrows your search, OR expands your search, NOT limits your search

.

Use the asterisk * to truncate a word and search for all forms.

Ex. Invent* will give you: Invent, Invents, Inventor, Invention


Use the question mark ? as a wildcard symbol.

Ex. Wom?n will search: woman & women

Use quotes to search for a specific phrase rather than just keywords

Ex. "Frog King" will search for the phrase rather than pulling every result that has "frog" and "king" somewhere in the record.

Subject Guide

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Rebecca Seipp
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Contact:
seipprl@hollins.edu
MSIS, Information Science
The University of Texas at Austin
BA, History
Southwestern University
540.362.6328

Possible Keywords

  • Islam and politics
  • Islam and Middle East
  • Islam and Afganistan
  • Islam and Taliban
  • Islam and women
  • Muslim women
  • Islam and politics and Egypt
  • (Koran OR Quran)