Introduction to the LEXIS-NEXIS Services for Schools of Library

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Introduction to the LEXIS-NEXIS Services
forSchools of Library Information Science

• Prepared by Carol S. Johnson
• LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Library Services
• Manager, Library Information Science Education

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Learn Using News Sources

• Can use same search logic across services
• News sources easy to understand
• Make searching interesting and fun
• Three News libraries
• NEWS all news sources
• REGNWS regional news, newspapers
• TOPNWS last two weeks news

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Using Traditional LEXIS-NEXIS

• Client software
• Classic interface
• Underlying organization and structure for all
  interfaces
• Aids in understanding why and how of L-N
  functionality, and some of the quirks

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Organization of Services

• Services structured by organizing databases into
  LIBRARIES and FILES
• Same structure beneath all platforms
• LIBRARY
• FILE
• DOCUMENT
• WORDS

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Organization of Services

• A LIBRARY is a group of related information
• A LIBRARY may contain information
• of a certain TYPE,
• on a specific TOPIC ,
• or for a specific GEOGRAPHIC region

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Libraries by TYPE

• NEWS Library
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Wire Services
• Broadcast transcripts
• Newsletters
• REGNWS Library Regional News
• TOPNWS Library Recent News (2 weeks)

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Libraries by TOPIC

• Different types on same topic
• GENFED - Federal Case Law, Statutes
• COMPNY -- Company information
• ENVIRN -- Environmental information
• SPORTS -- Sports news, publications, bios

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Libraries by GEOGRAPHIC Area

• Different types of info from same region
• North and South America
• Dutch
• German
• Asia Pacific
• Some contain non-English language sources

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Whats in a LIBRARY?

• Each LIBRARY contains FILES
• TWO types of FILES
• INDIVIDUAL FILE
• Documents from a single publication, i.e The New
  York Times is in the NYT file
• Materials from one publisher, ex. ABCNEW file
  contains transcripts from many ABC News shows,
  including World News Tonight with Peter Jennings,
  20/20, Good Morning America

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Whats in a LIBRARY?

• GROUP FILE has multiple sources
• Large group files lots of sources
• all full-text sources are in ALLNWS file
• all newspapers are in the PAPERS file
• Small group file small number of sources
• Indiana newspapers in INNWS file

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Organization of Services

• FILES contain DOCUMENTS
• The text from the source
• DOCUMENTS may also be referred to as
• ARTICLES
• STORIES
• CASES
• Nomenclature varies by source
• Well use DOCUMENTS for consistency

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Organization of Services

• DOCUMENTS consist of WORDS, may be
• Alpha texas or san antonio
• Numeric 99.44 or 2000
• Alpha-numeric 401K or Y2K
• In the LEXIS-NEXIS services, a WORD is any group
  of characters with a space on either side

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Choosing a LIBRARY and FILE

• Look for area of interest, you may need to use
  more than ONE library or file
• Choose smallest FILE that will give desired
  results DONT search ALLNWS (all news), when you
  only want a New York Times (NYT) article
• In most LIBRARIES, you can combine FILES,
  separating with commas, for a custom search

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Search Options

• Boolean, using TERMS CONNECTORS
• Essentially the same as other Boolean searching
  but language, operators and functionality are
  different in LEXIS-NEXIS
• FREESTYLE feature plain language searching
  (natural language)
• GUIDED FORM LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe,
  LEXIS-NEXIS Universe, based on underlying Boolean
  search

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Search Options

• Research Software 7.1.2
• Customizable tool bars
• Gives options for Searching and Viewing in
  Classic or Graphical mode
• My favorite
• Search Classic
• View Graphical

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Unique Searching Capabilities

• When using LEXIS-NEXIS, user is searching FULL
  TEXT of documents, not indexes or abstracts
• Can restrict search to specific portion (called
  SEGMENT) if user wishes
• Use same search logic through services, even with
  different interfaces

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Boolean Searching

• Original LEXIS-NEXIS search logic
• Still used most by many customers
• Allows precision searching
• Favorite of most information professionals,
  librarians and researchers
• This is what every librarian and future librarian
  should learn first!

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Boolean Search Basics

• Select an appropriate LIBRARY
• Choose an appropriate FILE
• Select the smallest FILE that will give the
  results you need
• Enter a SEARCH composed of WORDS
• Dont be intimidated by LIBRARY/FILE acronyms
  type number to the right of Library or FILE name
  to see description

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Boolean Search Basics

• Choose appropriate search words to define what
  youre looking for
• Simplify the search words
• Connect the search words
• Restrict your search results to a particular time
  frame (date restriction)
• Confine your search to a part of a document
  (segment searching segment field)

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Whats a WORD?

• A group of characters with a space on either
  side may be alpha or numeric i.e. _XXX_
• Most punctuation is recognized as a space, i.e.
  John D. Rockefeller, 401-K
• An exception is the embedded period
• (a period not having a space on either side,
  which is viewed as a character)
• i.e. A.J. Foyt, 99.44

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Words to Avoid

• NOISE WORDS so called because they are so common
  inclusion adds no value
• Personal pronouns (he, she, they)
• Most forms of the verb to be (be, is, was)
• Some conjunctions (and, as, because)
• RESERVED WORDS
• words used as part of search logic (and, or) or
• to identify features (lexsee, autocite)

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Choose Search Words

• Make a list of words that describe topic of
  interest
• Include alternatives (synonyms, antonyms)
• Avoid words that are too general
• Think as if you were writing the document what
  words would you include
• Adjacent words are treated as a phrase

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Plurals Possessives

• Automatically searches for plural and possessive
  forms of most regular words, i.e. if word is made
  plural by adding s or es or changing final letter
  y to ies for example boy finds boys, boys,
  boys
• Does not search for irregular plurals i.e. if
  word ends in us or is or other irregular plural
  form child does not find children

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Compound Words

• Compound words using a hyphen are sometimes
  treated as a single word, but not always
• Be safe enter both variations, i.e. anti-trust
  and antitrust
• Authors arent necessarily consistent!

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Simplify Search Words

• Universal characters let you include all
  variations of a word without entering each
• holds a space for one character may be used in
  middle or at end of a word womn finds woman,
  women, womans and womens
• ! may be used only at the end of a word root to
  find that root plus all variations recycl! finds
  recycle, recycling, recyclable, etc..

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Join Words CONNECTORS

• OR - finds either or both search terms used for
  synonyms, antonyms or alternative expressions
• g.m. or gm or general motors
• bush or gore
• stock or share or equity

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Join Words CONNECTORS

• W/n - proximity connector finds documents with
  words that are within some number (n) of each
  other (does not work across segments)
• bush w/10 cocaine
• Tip ALWAYS use between first and last name,
  george w/2 bush bill w/2 clinton

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Join Words CONNECTORS

• AND - both search terms in each document
• clinton and gore
• general motors and market share
• Order of operation
• OR
• W/n (Remember n number n 1-255)
• AND

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Date Searching

• On a date date is
• Spell out the word is or
• use the arithmetic operator
• date is 2000
• date January 15, 2000
• date 1/2000
• NOTE System assumes two-digit years are within
  past 100 years

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Date Searching

• After a date date aft
• Abbreviate out the word aft or
• use the arithmetic operator gt (greater than)
• date aft 1999
• date gt Aug. 19, 1999
• date gt 10/99
• NOTE Month names and numbers are equivalents
  use the American convention

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Date Searching

• Before a date date bef
• Abbreviate out the word bef or
• use the arithmetic operator lt (less than)
• date aft 1999
• date gt August 19, 1999
• date gt 8-99
• NOTE Systems recognizes either dash or slash

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Date Searching

• Combine operators to search between two dates
• date aft AND date bef or
• date gt and date lt
• Date aft 1993 and date bef Sept. 1995
• NOTE Aft 6/30/99 does not include that date aft
  2000 would get nothing now!

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Special Operators

• Parentheses ( ) use to assure that system groups
  words separated by a connector
• For example (channel w/2 tunnel) or chunnel or
  (ken! w/2 starr) or (bill w/2 clinton)
• Quotation marks use to search reserved
  words when reserved word is first or only word in
  the search
• For example lexsee

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Running a Search

• Sign on
• Enter ID (on card attached to tent card)
• Enter CLIENT ID to identify search
• Choose LIBRARY
• Choose FILE
• Enter SEARCH TERMS (transmit Enter)
• Retrieve RESULTS

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Display and Review Results

• LEXIS-NEXIS gives options
• Buttons on Tool Bar
• Pull Down Menus
• Short Cuts (Dot Commands on back of ID card)
• Choose what works best for you!

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Displaying Search Results

• KWIC search terms highlighted, with a small
  block of text on either side (.kw)
• FULL full-text of the document (.fu)
• CITE bibliographic list of documents (.ci)
• VAR KWIC larger block of text than KWIC, can be
  customized (.vk or .vkn)
• SEGMTS views portion of document (.se)
• LEAD lead paragraph of news stories (.le)

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Reviewing Search Results

• For most sources (including news), results
  display in reverse chronological order
• Next page (.np)
• Previous page (.pp)
• First page (.fp)
• Next document (.nd)
• Previous document (.pd)
• First Document (.fd)

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Other Commands

• New Search (.ns) same LIBRARY FILE
• Change FILE (.cf) keep LIBRARY selected
• Change LIBRARY (.cl) choose different one
• Segments command (.se), has three uses
  
• 1) After search to display in SEGMENTS format or
• 2) After file selection to view SEGMENTS to
  search
• 3) at FILE screen, get FILE PRICES (not in MLS
  account)
• Sign off (.so) exit the LEXIS-NEXIS services

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Running a Search

• Search 1
• Library NEWS
• File ALLNWS
• Type search into Command Line of software
• Search san antonio and american library
  association or ala
• Save search for future use .keep

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Running a Search

• Search 2
• Library NEWS
• File 90DAYS
• Search indiana or ohio or michigan w/10 snow
• Review results using KWIC, FULL CITE
• Navigate results using NEXT PAGE, NEXT DOCUMENT,
  PREVIOUS PAGE, etc.

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Modifying a Search

• When you dont get the results you want
• Modification changes the original search
• Type m and press ENTER search will display
• Type a connector, usually AND, followed by new
  search words and press ENTER
• Type .log click on san antonio search
• Modify to add AND ala w/5 president

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Using the FOCUS Feature

• FOCUS does not change original search
• A search within a search
• Always narrows results of answer set
• FOCUS multiple times on same search
• Retains original answer set
• Command focus or .fo

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Using the FOCUS Feature

• Type .log, click on snow search
• FOCUS on ski! condition
• Only highlights terms in your focus search
• Can FOCUS again, or execute EXIT FOCUS command
  (.ef)

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Using the FOCUS Feature

• To highlight original search terms and focus
  terms, use Ctrl Q to bring original search terms
  into Command Line
• Add focus terms, can use connectors, make changes
  to original terms connectors
• type and ski! condition
• .ef to exit

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When you CANT use FOCUS

• Although FOCUS is available in most of the
  services, it cant be used
• Answer set has more than 1,000 documents (cant
  retrieve gt 1,000 documents in educational menu)
• QUOTE library (not in educational menu)

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Modify or FOCUS - which to use

• Use Modify to
• Start with broad search
• Add additional words
• Refine search
• Save retyping search to make small changes
• Add a date restriction
• Expand search

• Use FOCUS to
• Run new search words against current answer set
• Highlight different words in document than in the
  original search
• Save original search and return to it

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Segment Searching

• A SEGMENT is a part of a document
• SEGMENTS vary depending on SOURCE
• SEGMENTS for NEWS documents might include
  HEADLINE, BYLINE, COMPANY, etc.
• Proximity connectors (w/n) do not work across
  SEGMENTS

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Segment Searching

• Great for precision searching
• Find words in a specific part of document
• NEWS90DAYShlead(ala or american library)
• Browse documents
• modify or focus, if you choose
• Find pictures of Barbara Bushs dog
• NEWSALLNWSgraphic(millie and dog)

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Saving Your Search Results

• Print one screen at a time
• Download screen by screen using session record
  feature
• Print or download an entire document
• Print or download a list of documents
• Full document print and/or download will occur
  after you sign off the online session

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Print Now - Online Printing

• Permits print or download requests to be
  completed while you are still online.
• No more waiting for sign off
• After using Print Doc or Print All and confirming
  request, invoke Print Now command by entering .pn
• Follow messages on screen

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Print Now - Online Printing

• Research session is suspended while request is
  delivered
• Once print delivery is completed, a Print Summary
  screen displays
• Press ENTER at the Print Summary screen to return
  to the place in your research at which you
  invoked Print Now

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The Online GUIDE

• Description of library file contents
• Lists of sources in group files
• Dates of coverage
• Frequency of updates
• Segments within sources
• Name address of publisher
• Library and files where source is found

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How to use GUIDE

• GUIDE is two related features
• The GUIDE (.gu) command
• Provides a description of the library or file in
  which you are searching
• To use, type .gu after choosing library or file
• The GUIDE library
• Use LINK markers or SEARCH entire GUIDE

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When You Need Help

• www.lexis-nexis.com
• Click on Customer Service
• Customer Service Knowledge Base
• Source Locator
• Download Software
• Product Literature

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Strengths of LEXIS-NEXIS

• Most breadth and depth of any online service
• Search logic same in all parts of service
• Full text searching
• Many feature/function options
• Permits broad searching
• Allows retrieval of very precise results

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• The power of LEXIS-NEXIS in an easy-to-use web
  interface
• Accessible through most web browsers
• Sold for campus-wide use remote access via proxy
  servers
• May be used by students, faculty staff

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• News
• Business
• Legal Research
• Medical
• Reference

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Combines power of L-N with guided form interface
• End-user oriented, focus on undergraduate
  research needs
• Provide relevant, manageable answer set
• Each form has underlying Boolean search

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Dont need to know structure or organization of
  L-N to get good results!
• Easy source selection via pull-down menus
• Easy date restriction
• - Preconfigured date ranges
• - Radio buttons for customized dates

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Basic form
• Keyword entry required searches only in
  HEADLINE and LEAD PARAGRAPH
• Additional terms AND connector built in
  searches FULL TEXT
• Can use Boolean operators in either box

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• More options
• Lets user customized search
• Restrict terms to specific SEGMENT, or
• Search FULL TEXT
• Restrict to one or more publications

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Multiple options for HELP, including
• On screen explanations
• How do I? and HELP buttons
• Tips
• Examples
• Source list links

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Not as robust in sources or features as
  LEXIS-NEXIS Universe or lexis.com, but still a
  very powerful service

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Subscribed to by all institutions with MLS,
  except
• Clark Atlanta U

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe Subscribed
to by all institutions with MLS, except

• Clark Atlanta Univ.
• North Carolina Central
• Pratt Institute
• Rutgers University
• University of Alabama (Birmingham YES Tuscaloosa
  NO)

• University of Hawaii
• University of Iowa
• University of North Texas

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LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe

• Should be service of choice if your school of
  Information Science has an Undergraduate program
• Is an excellent introduction to L-N in an
  easy-to-use format!
• Its so easy that I use it for quick searches,
  especially in news sources!