Online Research Guide

Start at SJSU Library main website: https://library.sjsu.edu/

1. Click on Accounts on the top right,

2. Select OneSearch Account

3. Choose the SJSU student and employee login or SJPL patron and guest login if appropriate.

4. Enter your your SJSU ID Number and password.

5. Follow the Security Prompts of DUO Security and click Sign In

Now you have access to academic resources provided through SJSU. This is your starting point for your academic research.

On One Search Site,

1. Add your search term into the Search Box, you may use :

• Keyword,

• Title of the book or document,

• Author or

• Subject

The Search box has a feature that allows you select from different collections.

2. A drop-down menu with the SJSU OneSearch collections will appear

3. Select one of them OR just simply hit enter.

To perform a Basic Search:

1. Enter your keyword, title of the book or document, author or subject in the Search Box

2. You may select a library collection or database

3. Hit Enter or click the magnifying glass.

4. On the results page you may switch between collections to expand your search

Research Hint:

When you prepare for your topic, think of the keywords or search terms you will use, avoid using sentences. For example: main ideas and focus of your topic.

After performing “Search”, adding quotation marks and boolean operators will help you optimize your search results

1. Adding the quotation marks (“) symbol before the first word and after your last keyword” would include only the items with that exact phrase.

2. Using Boolean Operators : AND, OR, NOT

   • AND = search for the search terms together,

   • OR = search for either of the search terms

   • NOT = search without the second

Research tip: Think of the Who or What of your topic. Include other related topic ideas for your research such as synonyms to your search terms.

For more specific Research topics, the Advanced Search feature would allow you to broaden or narrow your search.

Advance Search to use multiple lines to your search, more search terms as well as specific fields by adding Search Filters:

Each drop down menu (inverted triangle symbol) would provide you with different options

• Any Field :Any field, Title, Author/contributor, Subject or ISBN

• Contains : contains, is (exact), starts with

• AND: Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT.

• +ADD A NEW LINE: Adds a new search line

Click Search to proceed with search.

If you have large number of results you may narrow the results utilizing the Refine by option. On the left side of OneSearch would provide you with filters to narrow by:

• Availability, Resource Type, Publication Date, Author/Creator, Subject, Location, Journal Title, Database, Language

• Active Filters will show you the filters that are used,

• You can remove filters that you no longer need by clicking on the “X”

A permalink or permanent link is a URL that is intended to remain unchanged and helps to point to the source of the URL.

1. Click the title of the article or book that you want to link to.

2. Look for a list of options for "Permalink" and click it. A pop-up window will display the correct URL for the article, which you can copy and paste where you need it or Select Copy to Clipboard.

To learn more visit:

https://libguides.sjsu.edu/permalinks

My favorites will help you have a record of your findings and search processes. To save an item to your favorites, click on the Pin symbol.

• Saved Records: Will store your saved items.

• Saved Searches: It will store your search query with its scope details

• Search History: it will record your latest queries

Searching by Subject is a helpful way to expand your resources and a useful tool to find library resources.

1. On the main website: https://library.sjsu.edu/

2. Scroll down or Go to Find a guide for your subject

3. Choose a Subject

4. Click on Go

5. The results will take you to different resources. You will find diverse Research Guides and LibGuides on different topics.

The Citation feature provides the option of different citation styles:

1. Click on the double quotes symbol (")

2. Select the citation style:

• APA (7^th edition)

• Chicago.Turabian (16^th edition)

• MLA (9^th edition)

• Harvard

3. Click on COPY THE CITATION TO CLIPBOARD

4. Paste to the desired location