HOLLIS ClassicTozzer Library
Searching Anthropological Literature and Anthropology Plus in FirstSearch
This guide is written for Harvard users searching Anthropological Literature (AL), an index of article records in journals and edited works available through OCLC's FirstSearch. Additionally, FirstSearch provides access to Anthropology Plus (AnthroPlus) which is the joint interface to AL and the British Museum's Anthropological Index (AI).
- Accessing Anthropological Literature in FirstSearch
- How to Search
- Ranking vs. Limit
- Browsing vs. Searching
- Organizing Search Results: Sort vs. Limit
- Searching by Source
- Finding Full-Text of articles
- My Account
- Help Buttons Within FirstSearch
- Information on Additional FirstSearch Databases
- For Further Assistance
Accessing Anthropological Literature in FirstSearch
There are two ways for Harvard users to access AL in FirstSearch:
- In the HOLLIS catalog, the record for Anthropological Literature (Online) contains an Internet link for the user's convenience.
- From the Harvard Libraries website, users should choose "Find E-Resources" and then search for "Anthropological Literature."
How to Search
First Search provides 3 search options in Anthropological Literature: Basic Search, Advanced Search, and Expert Search.
We recommend using Advanced Search, for its ability to rank a search before it is executed, for its multiple indexes options, and for its browse functionality. When you first enter the database, the default search option is Basic Search; click on the second tab to access Advanced Search.
Ranking vs. Limit
The Advanced Search screen has the choice "Rank By." The default is "No ranking;" with "Relevance" and "Date" as the other options. We recommend using "Date," as that will return search results listing the most recent citations first.
We do not recommend any of the "Limit to" options on the Advanced Search screen be used.
Browsing vs. Searching
There are two ways to find citations: browsing alphabetic or numeric lists and searching terms.
Browsing
To choose Browse, click on the button to the right of your index choice.
"Browse" is a left-rooted search that displays the closest matching term in the index selected. The user can move backwards and forwards in the index. FirstSearch contains "Phrase" options [i.e. Title Phrase, Author Phrase etc.] for all indexes which we recommend using when executing a Browse search.
Quick tips:
- We recommend using Browse=Author Phrase when searching for an author due to variations in name entry.
- We recommend using the Subject indexes over the Descriptor indexes as they are more encompassing.
- We recommend using Author indexes over the Personal Name indexes for the same reason.
Note that this Browse list only allows the user to choose one form of the name.
Clicking on "Tozzer, Alfred Marston" above pushes the user back to the Advanced Search screen with the name entered in the search box. The user can then click "Search" or type in the alternative name forms in the other search boxes, with "or" chosen as Boolean operator and "Author Phrase" selected for each. Clicking "Search" then retrieves all records with the name variants specified.
Quick tip: When Browsing foreign language titles try with and without initial articles.
Searching
Searching in various indexes retrieves article records with matching words, phrases, or numbers. There are multiple indexes that can be used individually or in combination with others. We do not recommend using Publication Date as it may return inconsistent results.
Organizing Search Results: Sort vs. Limit
Sort is available for a search retrieving 500 or fewer records. Limit can be used to narrow a search retrieving 500 or more records. Large search results can also be narrowed by choosing Related Subjects or Related Authors. Sort is then available as an option.
Quick tip: Limiting a search by Language Phrase (English vs. non-English) can be useful but may not retrieve a complete set of records, as not all records include the article language.
Searching by Source
Source refers to the title of the journal or edited work in which the article was published. This search choice is problematic due to variations in data entry. It is worth trying various options or a combination of indexes when searching for a source.
Example of Searching using multiple indexes:
Example of Searching using Browse=Source Phrase:
Quick tip: Not all article records in AL include an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN).
Finding Full-Text of articles
Each AL or AnthroPlus article record in FirstSearch contains a "Find it @ Harvard" button.
This option creates a link to online sources of full text available to Harvard users. If no full text source is available, the user is directed to HOLLIS, Harvard's online catalog.
My Account
The My Account option in FirstSearch allows you to set defaults that remain persistent from one session to a next when you log into your account. You also can save search results.
Help Buttons Within FirstSearch
Help within FirstSearch is extensive and recommended.
Information on Additional FirstSearch Databases
There are several database options for searching for article records in anthropology using OCLC's FirstSearch. A maximum of three databases can be selected and searched simultaneously. Click on the Databases tab to access the complete list of available FirstSearch databases.
Below is a selection of databases known to contain at least some anthropology and archaeology related articles:
| Anthropological Literature | (580,000 records from early 1800s to present) |
| Anthropological Index | (335,000 records from 1957 to present) |
| Anthropology Plus | (joint interface to AL and AI) |
| Francis | (French science index, including anthropology) |
| ECO | (OCLC collection of scholarly journals) |
| HistSciTechMed | (international material from periodicals since 1975) |
| RussianAcadSci | (citations from 12,500 titles publ. in Russia and beyond) |
| WorldCat | (all materials catalogued by OCLC member libraries) |
Quick tip: The FirstSearch interface is available in multiple languages (choose at bottom of screen).
For Further Assistance
The Search options in AL and AnthroPlus are extensive. This is a quick overview to familiarize the user with FirstSearch. For additional assistance contact Gregory A. Finnegan, Associate Librarian for Public Services and Head of Reference in the Tozzer Library, gregory_finnegan@harvard.edu.
