Citing Articles

APA Style Example: McGrath, T. (2000, June). Color and the exchange of ideas between patron and artist in Renaissance Italy. The Art Bulletin, 82(2), 298-308. Retrieved June 22, 2001, from FirstSearch WilsonSelectPlus database: http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org For additional APA examples, visit the APA site.

MLA Style Examples: McGrath, Thomas. "Color and the Exchange of Ideas Between Patron and Artist in Renaissance Italy." The Art Bulletin June 2000: 298-308. WilsonSelectPlus. FirstSearch. Babson College Horn Lib., Babson Park, MA. 22 June 2001 <http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/>. For additional MLA examples, visit the MLA site.

Basic Steps

If you know which database is most appropriate to your search, select List All Databases and select your database. If not, click on Suggest Best Databases, then type in some keywords, use the Select a Topic or Database (the default is a general databases search). The results list is organized by the greatest number of matches on the top.  Select your database by clicking on the link.  If in doubt, read the database description next to the search entry box (or click on the i icon). Select the type of search by clicking on the arrow next to the keyword index box - subject, title, author or other. The default is keyword which usually includes the title, subject heading and abstract fields, where available. Click Start Search. The number of citations found will be displayed at the top of the screen and the titles listed below. Click the title, one at a time, to view the full record that describes the book or article. Click List of Records at the top menu bar to return to your list or click Searching then Clear for a new search.

Obtaining Books and Articles

Articles The List of Records indicates which items are available full-text online through FirstSearch.  If the full-text is not available: For magazines and journals, try the Online Journal Finder Check the Library Catalog to see if Babson receives the journal title in paper. If not online or in the Library Catalog you may place an interlibrary loan request for delivery from another library. See below.  Sending an InterLibrary Loan Request from FirstSearch Scroll down to the Get this Item section Click "Send request to Babson ILL ."   You will be taken to Babson's Interlibrary Loan page. Follow instructions there.  If you have questions, contact the Information Desk1 at 781-239-4596.  Books Click Connect to the catalog at Babson College Library, to see if available at Babson or from another WEBnet library.     If not in WEBnet, send a request to Babson ILL (see above).

Viewing, Printing & Saving Options

Viewing Records results are numbered and listed in the order in which they were added to the database, most recent first. Sorting and Marking Use the Sort icon (for <500 records) to sort by relevance, title, author, number of libraries who own the item, or date (depending on database). You can Mark records to view, email or save to disk. Printing, Saving, and Exporting Use the Print or E-Mail icon to deliver your results. From your browser's toolbar, chose File...Print to print the article or File... Save to download. Click the Export icon to download data bibliographic management programs, such as Endnote or Refwork.  Choose your format and then click Export.

Advanced Search Tips

Simple searches can be done using phrases and operators such as AND and OR. Be aware that in many databases a simple search will not search all segments of a record such as author or journal name. The default in most databases is to search the subject keyword index that covers the title, abstract, subject heading and descriptors. Segment searching can be accomplished two ways. You can click on the keyword index menu to select available options or you can enter segment tags as shown below. Name Format Example phrases w General w Motors Truncation - all variant endings * entrepreneur* Single or plural forms + entrepreneur+ Proximity - same order wX taming w2 shrew Proximity - any order nX michael w2 porter Boolean searching AND OR entrepreneur and team Field searching* tag: au: Porter, Michael su: clean air act Bound phrases* tag= jn=harvard business review * Click Help and then Database Help Topics to see list of tags (called wordlist search labels). Refer to the Survival Guide section on Using Computerized Services for full explanations of these strategies.

Scope

FirstSearch is the portal to over 35 databases. After WorldCat, most FirstSearch databases are specific to scholarly disciplines. For example, EconLit is from the American Economic Association. Please browse the list of subject databases, and decide which ones will help your research. There are some full-text sources on FirstSearch, particularly Periodical Abstracts and WilsonSelect. CONNECT to a listing of all databases included in FirstSearch.

Access Restrictions:	Students, Faculty, Staff may use Alumni and Visitors may not use.
List of Databases:	Indexed
Years of Coverage:	Coverage varies for each database
Number of Simultaneous Users:	Unlimited
Durable links:	Not Available
Customer Support:	1-800-848-5800  support@oclc.org
Online User Documentation:	FirstSearch Documentation
Not connecting? Check out our troubleshooting tips. Questions or continued problems, call the Library Information Desk at 781-239-4596 or submit a Problem Report.

Updated August 29, 2006 By  Rachel Zyirek