THE LRC 'Smart Search' tool
[Please note that at the time of writing (August 2022) our 'Smart Search' tool was in the process of being re-branded as 'Discovery@WLC'.
On the home page of our LibGuide platform you will find a simple-to-use, google type, search tool labelled ‘LRC Smart Search’.
This powerful tool has the ability to search through the majority of our online databases, as well as our entire library Catalogue to provide you with a single-entry point to a vast array of online, and printed books, journals, articles and other online resources.
Our 'Smart Search’ tool is actually provided by EBSCO Information Services (which is a leading provided of educational databases). When you use the search tool you will be required to log into EBSCO Information Services by using your usual college username and password.
Please note that in educational institutions around the world, the tool is more commonly referred to as the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), and should you wish to explore further, you will find that there are many quality support guides to using EDS available the Internet.
Using Smart Search
As you can see, Smart Search initially provides you with a single search box in which to enter your search term(s).
It also provides you with the options to limit the results to either journal articles or eBooks.
Basic key word search:
By default, a search will look for any items that contain all of the search words that you enter into the search box irrespective of the positions of the words.
So, for example, if you enter the key words:
| electric vehicle battery technology |
You should obtain 36,000 results!
and likewise, if you enter the key words:
| vehicle technology electric battery |
you will again obtain the same 36,000 results!
Basic phrase search
If you want the tool to search for a complete phrase, then simply enclose the words within quotation marks " " .
Example: Basic Phrase Search
| "The road to Wigan pier" |
Search results :
Refining your search
With the vast array of information that is available to EDS you may find that your searches produce a very large number of results and that a number of items will be irrelevant.
This problem can usually be overcome by enhancing the focus of your search and EDS provides you with numerous options that allow you to do this.
Advanced search options
You may notice that EDS has an advanced search option.
When you select the Advanced search option you will initially be presented with three separate boxes (you may add more if you wish) in which you may enter search terms to build your search strategy.
For each search term that you enter into a box, there is an option that allows you to specify which item field(s) to search (eg, title, author, full text).
You may also apply the Boolean operators (AND, OR and NOT) to your search terms to specify whether your search terms must be included in the results (AND), must not be included in the results (NOT), or optionally included in the results (OR). For example, "climate change" OR "global warming".
Advanced Search Example
Search results (6 items)
Applying Limiters
When your search results are displayed, EDS automatically displays numerous options that you may select to further refine your search. These are known as search 'limiters'. By using the search limiters you may, for example, limit the results by specifying:
