Don't use the General Search box. Refine your search using keywords in the title or author field whenever possible. Remember: The Database has more than 220,000 documents to search.
Limit the search by date. The Database covers literature dating back to the 1960s and earlier.
Use more specific keywords. Words such as "crime" or "police" will retrieve too many results.
Choose an ALL or PHRASE search instead of an ANY search.
Not enough hits?
Use fewer terms. Too many terms can restrict a search.
Choose an ANY search instead of an ALL or PHRASE search.
Change one of the search terms to a broader keyword. For example, replace "juvenile gangs" with "gangs."
Use the "wildcard," include the plural forms of words by typing an asterisk (*) after the search term(s). For example, "prison*" will find "prison," "prisons," "prisoners," and other words with the root word "prison."
