1. On the World Wide Web, link to http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/plan_skyline . If you are using a computer at Cañada, CSM or Skyline libraries or at any public library in San Mateo County, skip to step 2.

1a. If you are using a computer somewhere other than at the libraries listed above, enter your Library Card Number from your PLAN library card (Peninsula Library System) in the entry box. (Be sure to click in the box before you type your number.) [See example.]

2. At the Database List screen, you need to select one of the databases to search. For most college research topics, select Academic ASAP from the list by clicking on either the large square icon to the left of the Academic ASAP database description or on the "start searching" link at the end of the description. [See example.]

3. Click in the entry box, type in a word or words for a general research topic and then click the "Search" button. [See example.]

4. All of the subject headings that include the words you entered will then be displayed. Before you select any heading, look at all of the subjects listed. There are four different types of links (blue underlined words) that may be displayed after different subject headings.

• A "see" link indicates that the subject displayed above is not an official subject heading that is used in the InfoTrac database and it indicates that the word(s) shown after the "see" is the correct subject heading to use.
  Click on a "see" link to link to the correct subject heading. [See example.]
• A "Narrow by subdivision" link indicates that the articles on the subject heading displayed above are divided into more specific aspects, called "subdivisions."
  If subdivisions are available for a subject you want to research, it is usually helpful to display the subdivisions since they make it easier to find articles on just the aspects of the subject in which you are most interested.
  Click on a "Narrow by subdivision" link to display a list of those subdivisions.[See example.]
• A "See also related subjects" link indicates that additional articles on subjects related to the subject heading displayed above are listed under other "related" subject headings.
  "Related" subject headings often give you ideas for other subject headings that might have useful articles on your topic, but that you might not have thought of.
  Click on a "See also related subjects" link to display a list of those related subjects. [See example.]
• A "View" link indicates that the subject displayed above is an official subject and the number of articles available in the database for that subject is listed after the "View".
  Click on a "view" link to view a list of citations for the articles on that subject. [See example.]

If the subject words do not match any official subject headings, Searchbank will display a list of citations for any articles that include your subject key words in the record.

If none of the displayed subject headings or citations are relevant to your research subject, click on the "Back" button in the upper left corner of the screen and then enter different word(s) for the same subject or try a broader subject.

5. If your list of citations is very long, you can click on the "Limit Search" link, on the left column of the citation list page [See example], to narrow the number of citations in any of the following ways: [See example]

• limit the search results to full-text articles only,
• limit the search results to refereed publications (higher quality scholarly journals) only,
• limit your search to a specific publication date or date range,
• limit your search to a specific publication, or
• add one or more key words to the current search (this option is not currently available).

6. Each citation on the citations list provides basic information about the article (article title, author, name and date of the periodical and the pages of the article). A "View.." link below each citation indicates whether the database includes the full text (and graphics, if available) of the article or an abstract (summary) of the article. [See example]

• Click on "View text and retrieval choices" to view the full text for the article
• Click on "View abstract and retrieval choices" to view the abstract (summary) for the article (the full text is not available on the database)

7. When you view the full record of any article that you think is very relevant to your research topic, you can click on the "Link" link, on the left column of the page, [See example] to list a set of subject headings that are links to all other records that have any of the same subject headings as this article. [See example] You can then click on any of the subject heading links to list all of the records for that subject. This is a very good method to find additional articles on topics that are similar to the first article.

8. To access a copy of the record you're viewing, click on the "Print or E-mail" link, on the left column of the page [See example], to either:

• print the full record,
• save the full record to disk, or
• e-mail the full record to any e-mail account.

To print or save the record using your Web browser (typically Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Explorer or the AOL browser) use the "Browser Print" option by clicking on the "Reformat for printing" link. [See example] This displays the record again in a "printer-friendly" format (be sure to wait until your browser indicates that the document is done).

• To print, pull down your browser's File menu and select "Print..." (or click on the "Print" button if there is one) to print what you see.
  
  
• To download to disk, pull down your browser's File menu and select "Save As..."
  
  For more detailed directions on printing and saving from Netscape, see the reading:
  How to Use Netscape.

To e-mail the record to any e-mail account, enter the e-mail address in the appropriate box under the "E-Mail Delivery" option click on the "Submit E-mail" request button below. [See example] (You may also enter an optional subject for the e-mail message in the "Subject" entry box. If no subject is entered, the title of the article is used as the subject.)

9. When the full record for an article is displayed, a "Library Holdings" link will be shown on the left column of the page [See example] if Skyline College Library subscribes to the magazine or journal. Click on this link to display the specific dates for which our Library carries the magazine or journal. [See example]

These materials may be used for educational purposes if you inform and credit the author and cite the source as: LSCI 105 Online Research. All commercial rights are reserved. To contact the author, send comments or suggestions to: Eric Brenner at brenner@smcccd.cc.ca.us