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OCtopus (Library Search Engine)
OCtopus Search & Result Tips!
- Advanced Search: use to add more fields to your search; this will help you keep your different concepts straight
- Research Starters: these built-in encyclopedia articles will give a brief overview to broad topics
- Click into title link of result to find a quick summary/abstract of the book or article result you want to look at and find helpful tool bars in right menu column (download, print, email, cite, permalink)
- Change the publication date of items you see with this slider: very helpful for gathering recent information!
- Check off Catalogue Only (Books & Media) for physical library items (print books, DVDs). Note Location & Call No. to find which collection area item is shelved at. Request items from other campus libraries
- Check off Resource Types: eBooks: open eBook PDF options rather than "Full Download" | OR click first into Most Relevant Pages or Table of Contents to more quickly find the chapter(s) or pages on your topic
- Check off Resource Types: Academic Journals for articles in literary and other scholarly journals
- More filters are below if you scroll down
- The method to access the item will always be in the top left, whether it is a PDF, "Full text finder," or "Retrieve Catalogue Item"
- Keep track of this information: you will need it for citations!
- Abstract: this is a summary of what an article is about
- DOI: a digital object identifier is a unique string of numbers to help people find articles. You will need it for citations!
- Cite button: use with caution! Check citation against Library Citation Style guides
- Permalink: click here to get a stable URL to the item: the URL in the bar at the top of the page will not work later
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