Search Strategy: Successive Fraction

(Competency #6 : Search Strategy)

Successive Fraction Strategy
This strategy is the opposite of the snowballing approach. Instead, a search is conducted using a broad term, and narrowed down with use of limiters, Boolean operators, and a second facet.

Database: WorldCat
Topic: What kinds of online adult programming are other public libraries offering?


The broadest facet in this topic is “adult programming”. Other terms that will help narrow results are “online” and “public libraries”. Below is a list starting with the broad term and two facets to narrow results. Last, I limit what is retrieved to list only books.
1. KW: adult program*
Results: 43,056!

2. KW: online
Results: 484

3. KW: public librar*
Results: 16

4: Limiter: Books
Results: 6 items

Of the six items retrieved through use of this strategy, I was able to locate one item useful to my topic:

Libraries without walls 4 : the delivery of library services to distant users : proceedings of an international conference held on 14-18 September 2001, organized by the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM), Manchester Metropolitan University.

Peter Brophy; Shelagh Fisher; Zoë Clarke

2002

English Book 299 s.

London : Facet Publishing, ; ISBN: 185604436X 9781856044363

Lifelong learning is becoming a reality throughout the world, requiring that learning opportunities and materials are delivered to citizens in their locality, at home or at work. Increasing numbers of students are undertaking distance education programmes and libraries are being called upon to find innovative ways to support distance learners. Developments in technology are creating new possibilities for document delivery and the distributed virtual library....

Search Strategy: Specific Facet First Approach

(Competency #6 - Search Strategy)

 Specific Facet First Strategy
In the specific facet first strategy, the most unique term is used to conduct the first search adding other terms and checking the results to determine what gives the best results. This strategy has similarity to the building block approach.
Database: Library Literature
Topic: How to plan for and implement a chat reference service at the public library?
The most unique term identified in this topic is “chat reference” (a phrase rather).

1. Using the basic search function the terms “chat reference” retrieved 155 records.
2. To focus my search, other “unique” terms from the topic are plugged in one by one to refine my results. Terms: plan, implement, public library
3. The next unique term, and most important, is “public librar*”. To add in my search string, I have selected to modify the original search. This came up with a total of 19 records.
4. The last term, “implement*”, is also truncated to retrieve results containing implement, implementing, implementation. The final results show 3 records; one with promising information.



Ward, J. (2003). "Going It alone: Can a small/medium-sized library manage live online reference?". The Reference librarian (0276-3877), (79/80), p. 311.



The use of this strategy is straightforward and easy to use because of its similarity to the building block strategy which is very simple to conduct.