ENG 250: Children's Literature (Online): Search Tips

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• Get Search Tips 
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Step 0: a reminder

Your search will almost always need to contain a phrase like children's books, children's literature, picture books, etc.

Step 1: Write down your topic

Example: Representations of gender in children's books

Step 2: Identify keywords by crossing out "filler"

Example: Representations of gender in children's books --> My keywords: representation gender children's books

Step 3: Try a simple keyword search 

Tip: Start simple. For most library databases these days, you don't need to add ANDs ORs, parentheses or asterisks.

Example: representation gender children's books

Step 4: Too many results? Not about your topic? Add keywords 

If your results are not on topic

• add another keyword to make your search more specific. Example: I'm interested in representations of parent gender roles. I'll try adding that phrase.
• if your results are way off base, try using different keywords. Example: I'm interested in representations of trans people, but I got articles on representations of women. I'm going to replace the word gender with trans or queer or non-binary.

Still no luck? Ask a librarian!

Email the NOVA Online Librarians at online-library@nvcc.edu or use the 24/7 help chat on this guide page.

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For individual research help, schedule an appointment to meet with a librarian.