This page offers search strategies -- basic walk-throughs or "recipe" instructions -- for searching for print and online information sources useful for this course. For the sake of space and brevity, these instructions are somewhat generic -- the themes to which variations may be applied. If you have questions about these searches or any variations, contact a librarian.
General Instructions
Most online searches you do will be of the "V" type: you start with a broad term (in this case, Neil Gaiman for the most part, although terms like Norse or mythology might be the leading term) and then focus down to specifics through employing a set of filtering terms. There is no predicting where you will find the information you seek, so fluency in searching the library's online catalog, electronic databases, and the internet is a must. Remember that online searching largely is a vocabulary drill:in which you try to put in the search boxes words that are most likely to harvest the results you are seeking. You don't need to use natural language searching; in most instances just nouns or noun phrases will be sufficient.
The Searches
JaxCat
Databases/Gemfinder
NOTE: In JaxCat you do not have to enter a search term in the starter box. Just set the radio button on JaxCat and then click on the Search button. You will be taken to a screen which displays all the JaxCat search options. Gemfinder is different. You MUST put something in the starter box. Usually this should be your broadest search term; then <search>, and when the results list comes up click on Advanced Search, <search> again, and then add your filtering terms. In both databases and Gemfinder, set the Boolean operators immediately to the left of the search boxes appropriately.
Internet