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.