Although databases may vary in scope, they have some common search features which can be used in constructing a search.

• Phrase Searching: Use quotation marks around the words that are part of a phrase
  • "fan wang jing"
• Use AND to connect words that must appear in a document.
  • Monasticism AND "fan wang jing"
• Use OR for related or synonymous terms.
  • monasticism OR monk OR monastery
• Use parentheses to group a search and combine it with another search.
  • Buddh* AND (paintings OR art)
• Use an asterisk * to find variant word endings. Be careful not to shorten your word too much, because this can bring back results that are not relevant.
  • Korea* retrieves both Korea and Korean
  • religio* retrieves religion, religious, religiosity

Note: Many databases offer an advanced search option to refine your results by type of publication, language, date, etc.

If your article is not available at Collins Library, you've got another option to getting it. Use Tipasa, our interlibrary loan service.

You'll need to set up an account the first time you use it and log in subsequently.

Once you have an account, either go directly to Tipasa and manually enter the information, or, if you're using a database, look for a shortcut link to automatically fill out the form, like this:

Allow at least a week for the article to come. If your  article is delivered in electronic format, you'll receive an email with a link to follow as soon as it's arrived. If it's delivered in paper, you'll receive it right in your campus mailbox.