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Consider Your Information Need Background InformationNarrowing Your TopicBrainstorming Search Terms Keyword Searching Subject Searching

Keyword Searching

Keyword searches are the broadest type of search, searching all fields of a record at the same time. Because databases, catalogs, and search engines look for term(s) anywhere in a record, you may retrieve results that are out of context or irrelevant.

keyword chart

For example, the search teaching aids could bring up hits on the AIDS disease as well as on specific classroom tools for teachers.