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Why use this database?
This database is useful for students needing biographical information.
Description: Biography Resource Center's database combines
nearly 415,000 biographies on over 320,000 people from more than
790 volumes of over 130 Gale Group sources, with full text articles
from more than 250 magazines.
Availability and Use Restrictions:
In-Library Use: Available at all library locations
Remote Use: Massachusetts Public Library card required.
There are three search screens; Name, Biographical Fact Sheets,
and Advanced.
Name Searching
- Type the name in the search box, partial names are acceptable.
- Click on SEARCH.
Biographical Facts Searching
- Type the name in the search box, partial names are acceptable.
- Use the next fields to narrow down your search, you may enter
information such as:
Occupation, Nationality, Ethnicity, Birth/Death Year, Birth/Death
Place and Gender.
- Click on SEARCH.
Advanced Searching
Allows you to build complex search expressions.
- Type information into the fields, select the type of search
(Name, Keyword, Full Text and Source).
- Use the Boolean operators to broaden or narrow the search.
- Enter the Date of Publication if known
- Click on SEARCH.
Using the Boolean Operators
Combining Terms
Use OR to connect similar terms. OR
broadens your search.
| Example: |
hispanic or latino |
Use AND to connect separate concepts.
AND narrows your search.
| Example: |
doctor and surgeon |
Use NOT to eliminate separate concepts. NOT
narrows your search.
| Example: |
kennedy not politician |
Truncating Terms
Use * to replace one or more characters at the
end of a search term.
|
Example: |
drug* (retrieves drug, drugs, druggist) |
Use ? to replace one character within a search
term.
|
Example: |
wom?n (retrieves woman, women) |
Use ! to indicate one character at the end of a search
term, may use multiple !.
|
Example: |
analo!! (retrieves analog, analogs but not analogous) |
Proximity Searching
Use n# to find terms within a specified number(#)
of words of each other regardless of the order.
|
Example: |
white n2 constance (retrieves White, Helen Constance;
Glenn,Constance White) |
Use w#
to find terms within a specified number(#) of words of each and
in a specific order.
|
Example: |
white w2 constance (retrieves White, Helen Constance;
but not Glenn,Constance White) |
Displaying Search Results
Results are displayed in a citation list:
- Use the scroll bar to move through the list.
- Click on the PAGE NUMBER or RIGHT ARROW
or LEFT ARROW to display more entries.
- Click on an entry to display the matching full record.
- Use the scroll bar to move through the record.
- Click RESULTS LIST to return to the list of results.
Marking Records
- Click in the check box next to the title on the Results List.
- You can mark results from multiple searches to print/email/download.
- Click UPDATE MARK LIST.
- Click VIEW MARK LIST to display the list of selected
records.
Printing Search Results
- Display the record, or marked records to be printed.
- Click on your browser's FILE menu and select PRINT
PREVIEW.
- Make sure the pages are what you want. If you are using this
database within a BPL location there is a charge for computer
printing.
- Click PRINT.
- Click OK.
- Click BACK to back up.
Downloading Search Results
- Display record, or marked citation list to be downloaded.
- Insert a formatted disk into a floppy drive.
- Click on your browser's FILE menu and select SAVE
AS.
- Type the disk drive, the filename and .txt in the FILE
NAME box.
- Click SAVE.
Emailing Search Results
- Display record, or marked records to be emailed.
- Click EMAIL.
- Type your email address in the MAIL TO box.
- Click SEND.
- Click BACK to back up.
Beginning a New Search
- Click in the search box at top of page and enter a new term.
Or, click on a search option below the name of the database.
Exiting
- Click on HOME at the top of the screen to return
to the Boston Public Library Web site.
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