GeoRef User Guide

GeoRef indexes international journal literature in geology, geosciences, paleontology, economic geology, hydrology, structural geology, geophysics, surficial geology, mineralogy, oceanography, etc. A selection of dissertations, chapters of books, conference papers, reports, and web sources are also included. GeoRef also has references to all publications of the United States Geological Survey. The resources are not available full text online. Coverage for North American geology starts at 1785, and coverage for non-U.S geology starts with 1933. The corresponding print resource, Bibliography and Index of Geology, is available in the Reference collection, (REF) Z 6031 .G4.

Accessing GeoRef:

Select the "Find Articles: Databases A-Z" link on the UWM Libraries home page, select “G,” scroll down, and select GeoRef. For related searching, use the database Geobase.

SEARCH OPTIONS:

Quick Search

  1. Enter a single word or multiple words in the text box. Individual words can be truncated to retrieve related terms, e.g., glaci* will retrieve glacial, glacier, glaciers, glaciation, etc. Multiple words entered into the text box as a phrase will be searched as an exact phrase.
  2. If searching for multiple concepts, combine the words or phrases by using the Boolean terms "and", "or", "not," or "near."
  3. If desired, limit the search by specifying a date range using the drop down menu. The default range is from earliest material through the current year.
  4. Click the Search button.
Advanced Search
  1. Click on from the bar.
  2. Build a search strategy by entering words in the text boxes. The search allows for increased search capability. Search up to three words in each line of a search strategy with a combination of three sets of terms within specific fields of the record - combine terms and fields. Enter a single or multiple words in the text boxes. Choose Anywhere to search for the words in all fields of a record. If desired, choose a specific field of a record to limit the search (Abstract, Author, Descriptors, Title, Source, Keywords, etc.). ALERT: Within each set, terms typed in any of the three text boxes are combined with an or operator only. Additional search lines can be added.
  3. To search an author's name, use the last name first name or last name first-second initials (e.g., smith john or sutherland wj) as name entries vary.
  4. Combine sets of terms: use the drop down menu of operators, and, or, or not.
  5. Searches can be limited to a specific date range, to journal articles only, language, publication type, format, classification, or to the latest update. The latest update refers to the records most recently added to the database.
  6. Under "Show" use the drop down menu to display results in a specific format. Options include short (title, author, source, and brief annotation), full, or full -- omit refs. The default is short. Full records and abstracts can be displayed from the citation in the results list.
  7. Click the Search button.

Results List

The list of results will show basic citation information for articles, books or chapters within books, dissertations, and other resources indexed; click on View Record to see the complete field information, including any extended abstract available and assigned descriptors (subject terms).

Within the Results List, limit the citations to peer reviewed, dissertations, conference papers, maps, book reviews, etc.

Locating Documents at UWM Libraries

  1. To determine if the UWM Libraries own a specific journal or book cited in the results list or has the full text of the journal available in another online resource, click at the bottom of the citaiton.
  2. If the journal is available full text in an online resource, select the database of choice from the options given and follow the instructions to locate the article.
  3. If the journal is not available full text in an online resource, follow the link to the UWM Libraries to check for print holdings. Locate the call number and holdings in the PantherCat record.
  4. If a title does not appear in the libraries' catalog nor is available full text online, request the journals through Interlibrary Loan and the books through UW System borrowing or Interlibrary Loan.
  5. Dissertations included in the database may be requested or purchased through Interlibrary Loan.
SEARCH TOOLS:

Click on on the top bar for other useful search tools:

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GeoRef allows easy browsing of indexes: Author Index, Journal Name, and Publication Type Index.. Select the choice from the drop down menu, enter a search term, and retrieve an alphabetical listing of words from within that category. For example, enter an author's last name and click Go. A list of all cited authors with the last name entered will be retrieved. To see a complete list of journals indexed, follow the instructions under "Help."
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Type in a word to search through the list of words/terms in the Thesaurus. The results of that search will be the correct term with broader and narrower terms. To look at the other terms and additional broader or narrower terms, click on the highlighted term.
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This option allows previous search strategies, i.e., terms and subjects searched, to be combined without re-entering all the terms, to obtain more precise search results.
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The Command Searching function allows the combination of keyword, author, publication year, title terms, etc., by typing a combination of field codes, terms, and boolean operators in a line. Examples of field codes include: (KW=) keyword and (AU=) author. A complete list of field codes can be found in the drop down menu choices of an Advanced Search.
An example of a command search would be:
        py=(1990 or 1991) and au=smith and kw=afghanistan

PRINT / SAVE/ EMAIL OPTIONS:

Print:

  1. To print multiple records, mark each record selected.
  2. Click the Save/Print/Email Records button.
  3. Choose a specific format in which the records will be printed. Options include: short (title, author, source), full, or full without refs. If this is not selected, the default display is full record.
  4. Click the Print button.
  5. Click the browser print icon or select File – Print from the browser menu to proceed with printing.
Save:
  1. To download multiple records to disk, mark each record selected
  2. Click the Save/Print/Email Records button.
  3. Citations can be saved in several formats: the default format is PC.
  4. Click the Save button. Choose File--Save As from the browser menu, then choose a:\ drive from the drop down menu.
  5. Click Ok.

Email:

  1. To email multiple records, mark each record selected.
  2. Click the Save/Print/Email Records button.
  3. Fill in the email address where the citations should be sent. The 'from' email address can be the same as the address entered in the 'to' address box.
  4. Click the Email button after both email addresses have been entered.

   

Alerts:

Users can set up a profile to receive "alerts" on new research done. Follow the instructions given in the database; for general information, the UWM Libraries guide "EMAIL ALERT SERVICES" may be useful.
HELP:

For additional information, click on Help & Support or request assistance at the Information Desk.

To determine if a specific journal is indexed by GeoRef, use the Search Tools: Indexes process. To view an alphabetical list of all journals indexed by GeoRef, click on Help & Support, scroll down to "Databases and Collections," then to "Serials Source Lists." Scroll down the screen to GeoRef and click on "Browse." The list is available on the AGI site, http://www.agiweb.org/georef/about/serials.html.

NOTE: journals are indexed differently. Each journal will be flagged with one of the following: CORE journals are indexed cover-to-cover (all articles in each issue are included); PRIORITY journals are indexed with more than 50% of the articles covered; SELECTIVE journals are indexed with less than 50% of the articles covered.

EXIT:

To exit GeoRef, click Home on the web browser.

LLB: 1/13/05

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UWM Libraries Staff
page contact: Linda Brothen