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Library Resources for English Language Learners

Search Strategies

Whether you're searching using OneSearch or another library database, there are certain strategies you can use to ensure you find the kind of information for which you're looking. When you use search engines like Google, you're able to type in whole questions or phrases. Library databases, however, are much more specific.

Search Terms

First, we select the main search terms that relate to our topic. The database works best with nouns. Eliminate any articles (of, to, is, with), adjectives (best, worst, good, bad), and most verbs (affect, change, alter, support).

Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are used to tell databases to search for words in a certain order. This is especially useful for specific topics that can't be boiled down to a single word.

  • "mental health"
  • "higher education"

This is also helpful when searching for the title of a specific source!

  • "A History of American Higher Education"
  • "War and Peace"

Search Strings

We then connect our search terms. This is what we'll actually type into a database search box. Search strings work best when they're limited to no more than four search terms—otherwise, your search will be too narrow! 

Search Strings Using ANDa venn diagram representing the use of AND in search strings

When you connect your search terms using AND, the database will search for books, articles, and more which contain all your search terms. Search strings using AND narrows our search.

  • "climate change" AND activism
  • "sex education" AND "high school" AND Utah
  • voting AND adults

Search Strings Using OR and Parenthesis

a venn diagram representing the use of OR in search stringsSearch strings using OR help us expand our search and find more results. Often, OR is used in conjunction with parenthesis. OR on its own can often bring back too many results, so the parentheses help keep the database from bringing up off-topic resources:

  • ("resource officer" OR police) AND "high school"
  • "DREAM Act" OR "undocumented students"
  • (college OR university OR "higher education") AND "student loan debt"

Search Strings Using NOT

You may want to exclude certain concepts from your research. This can be done using the word NOT. Search strings using NOT help us narrow our search and find results that are more relevant to our topic. a venn diagram representing search strings using NOT

  • students AND college NOT "community college"
  • "political campaigns" AND "social media" NOT Facebook
  • Europe AND (soccer OR football) NOT "American football"

Get Help

If you're struggling with your searches, please contact a librarian!

Library Help

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  • Call: 801.863.8840
  • Text: 801.290.8123