Search Strategy: Building Block Approach

(Competency #6 - Search Strategy)

Building Block Strategy

The building block approach takes single facets (or concepts) and synonyms of each facet and ties them together in a search string using Boolean operators.

Database: Academic Search Complete (ASC)

Topic: What are some of the issues and trends with virtual reference service in academic libraries?

1.) Facets are identified within the topic/question. What are some of the issues with virtual reference service in academic libraries?

Facet1: issues

Facet2: virtual reference

Facet3: academic library

2.) Synonyms of each facet are identified.

Issues: outcome, results

Virtual reference: online reference, electronic reference, chat reference, live reference

Academic libraries: academic library, university library, college library

3.) Pulling all facets and synonyms in a search string with the use of Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”. Nesting is involved to create our search string. Parentheses are used to nest the terms within the search string.

Search string: ((issues or outcome or results) and (virtual reference or online reference or electronic reference or live reference) and (academic library or university library or college library))

Plugging this search string in ASC database, a total number of 46 records were retrieved. Below is a screenshot of the results. It shows both the recall number and how the search string was plugged in this database