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Cox Library

DIY: How to Search

  1. Milton Academy
  2. Cox Library
  3. MS Digital Portal or US Digital Portal
  4. DIY: Library Research
  5. DIY: How to Search

searching with subject headings

What are Subject Headings?
Specific, descriptive terms assigned to a source in a library catalog or database.
Subject Headings in the Library Catalog:
Subject Headings in One Search (or Search Everything):
Why use Subject Headings?
Found a great source?  Here's how to find want to find more just like it!

Subject Headings V. Keywords

Keywords Subject Headings
Natural Language Predetermined terms
Flexible searching Terms need to match exactly
Searches everywhere in the source record Searches only subject headings
Results can be too many or too few and are often irreelevant. Results are often too few - very specific focus