Article First by First Search - Index
Article First by First Search (Index)
Grades: 9+ | Subject(s): All | Overall rating: 9
Article First is an index service provided by First Search that currently searches 26,124 journal, magazine, and newspaper titles for articles. The interface is somewhat bland, but easy to use. For example, inexperienced researchers can use their simple “Show Me How” feature to begin the search process.
There are four different search options available for researchers – basic search, advanced search, expert search, or previous searches. The basic search allows researchers to search for keywords, the author’s name, by publication title, by source (journal, magazine, or newspaper), or by publication year. The advanced search option looks similar to the regular search options available within Academic Search Complete. The search process allows researchers to use Boolean and phrase logic to filter search results. Users can also sort search results by ranking. The expert search features allow researchers to search using symbols, plurals, truncation, wildcards, Boolean logic, and proximity. However, to use this feature would take an advanced level of knowledge and searching experience. The previous searches option allows users to save search results for use later or to combine previous search results.
For the purposes of this project, I decided to use the basic search option and used the phrase “library orientation.” 83 results were displayed rather quickly in a short list format. Researchers can sort the results by date, author, title, publication, and source. They also can find related authors, limit the results by author, year, or for subscriptions only held in the University of West Georgia library. The option to print, print, or export the list is also available. Researchers have the option to mark titles for exporting, e-mailing, or printing indexed information.
Once users click on a title, many options are available. Researchers can check the UWG library for the article or search for libraries worldwide that own the item. An option to cite the article in APA, Chicago, Harvard, or MLA styles is given in a copy/paste format. The authors are listed and hyperlinked so that researchers can find other titles written by that author. Database information such as source title, additional information, standard ISSN number, DOI number, language, and database are listed as well. A “Find it in UWG” button is given so that researchers can easily access a full-text version of the file.
If a researcher should have a need to find articles only within one database, the option to change the index from ArticleFirst to other options is available. Other indexed databases offered within the First Search index include: ClasePeriodica, Ebooks, ERIC, GPO, Medline, OAIster, PapersFirst, Proceedings, WorldCat, and WorldCatDissertations.
I do not believe I have ever used an index that did not include abstracts. So deciding which papers sounded interesting or relevant to my search was a little difficult. I assigned a 9 to this index solely because finding an abstract and/or full text of the article required several additional steps.
Source:
Harrington, M., Ditkoff, J., & Young, K. (2011). Orientation using visual storytelling and the cloud. Library Hi Tech News. 28(4), 1-4.
Grades: 9+ | Subject(s): All | Overall rating: 9
Article First is an index service provided by First Search that currently searches 26,124 journal, magazine, and newspaper titles for articles. The interface is somewhat bland, but easy to use. For example, inexperienced researchers can use their simple “Show Me How” feature to begin the search process.
There are four different search options available for researchers – basic search, advanced search, expert search, or previous searches. The basic search allows researchers to search for keywords, the author’s name, by publication title, by source (journal, magazine, or newspaper), or by publication year. The advanced search option looks similar to the regular search options available within Academic Search Complete. The search process allows researchers to use Boolean and phrase logic to filter search results. Users can also sort search results by ranking. The expert search features allow researchers to search using symbols, plurals, truncation, wildcards, Boolean logic, and proximity. However, to use this feature would take an advanced level of knowledge and searching experience. The previous searches option allows users to save search results for use later or to combine previous search results.
For the purposes of this project, I decided to use the basic search option and used the phrase “library orientation.” 83 results were displayed rather quickly in a short list format. Researchers can sort the results by date, author, title, publication, and source. They also can find related authors, limit the results by author, year, or for subscriptions only held in the University of West Georgia library. The option to print, print, or export the list is also available. Researchers have the option to mark titles for exporting, e-mailing, or printing indexed information.
Once users click on a title, many options are available. Researchers can check the UWG library for the article or search for libraries worldwide that own the item. An option to cite the article in APA, Chicago, Harvard, or MLA styles is given in a copy/paste format. The authors are listed and hyperlinked so that researchers can find other titles written by that author. Database information such as source title, additional information, standard ISSN number, DOI number, language, and database are listed as well. A “Find it in UWG” button is given so that researchers can easily access a full-text version of the file.
If a researcher should have a need to find articles only within one database, the option to change the index from ArticleFirst to other options is available. Other indexed databases offered within the First Search index include: ClasePeriodica, Ebooks, ERIC, GPO, Medline, OAIster, PapersFirst, Proceedings, WorldCat, and WorldCatDissertations.
I do not believe I have ever used an index that did not include abstracts. So deciding which papers sounded interesting or relevant to my search was a little difficult. I assigned a 9 to this index solely because finding an abstract and/or full text of the article required several additional steps.
Source:
Harrington, M., Ditkoff, J., & Young, K. (2011). Orientation using visual storytelling and the cloud. Library Hi Tech News. 28(4), 1-4.