On the homepage, you will see links to MaagNet and to the OhioLINK Library Catalog. Maagnet is the catalog of books and materials owned by Maag Library; OhioLINK is a statewide catalog from which you can order books and materials electronically. Both catalogs include keyword and subject searches. These are different types of searches that can produce very different results.

• Subject Search
  
  
• o A subject search uses controlled vocabulary--subject headings assigned by the Library of Congress. This search strategy typically results in a high number of relevant records, but it is essential to use the correct Library of Congress subject heading. For example, the correct subject heading for Native Americans is Indians of North America. To determine a subject heading, consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/.



• To search: From the MaagNet menu, click Subject. Enter the Library of Congress subject heading.
  • If you are not sure of the exact Library of Congress Subject Heading, you may want to try a KEYWORDS search instead.
  • If a subject search produces unsatisfactory results, always try re-entering your search terms as a KEYWORDS search.
  
  Example: Kent State University--Riot



• Keyword Search
  
  
• A keyword search is an uncontrolled search using natural language. This type of search retrieves records that contain the given word(s) in the title, subject, or content notes. Although this search retrieves more entries, it can be imprecise and may result in a high number of false hits.



• To search: From the MaagNet menu, click Keywords. Enter a word or words. If more than one word is entered, the words will be searched as a phrase. If you do not wish two or more words to be searched as a phrase, you must type the word AND between them.


Select the KEYWORDS menu option when you know only some of the words in a title, in a subject, or in a contents note. Also use it when you wish to combine search terms to broaden or narrow your search.
Example: Kent State and shooting* (* is a truncation symbol which will find both shooting and shootings.)


• For search help see About the OhioLINK Central Catalog and Tips for Searching MaagNet

From the homepage, under Find…, then Digital Collections, you will find links to the Associated Press archive, the OhioLINK digital video collection and Maag’s oral history collection (oral histories are also cataloged in MaagNet.)

Maag Library’s Department of Archives & Special Collections is located on the 5th floor of the library. The Archives serve as the official and final repository for the historical records of Youngstown State University (previously known as Youngstown College) from its establishment in 1908 to the present time. The Special Collections serve as an archival repository for historical materials which are neither official university records nor faculty papers, but which relate to the history of the geographical region of which YSU is a part. This includes the city of Youngstown, the Mahoning County and the Mahoning Valley.

Digital.Maag is Youngstown State University's Institution Repository, an electronic archive collection. Departments and programs at YSU may publish and/or store their works in Digital.Maag, improving publication and open access to valuable intellectual content.

• Research Databases
  Databases available to YSU students, faculty and staff. Authentication is required for off-campus users
  


• Electronic Journal Center
  A collection of journals available electronically to students, faculty and staff at OhioLINK institutions.
  


• Electronic Journal Center A searchable list of journals available electronically through certain OhioLINK databases and the Electronic Journal Center.
  


• JSTOR.       Off campus
  Journal Storage is an electronic archive of journal articles in a variety of subject areas. Each journal is available from the initial publication date until a date specified by the publisher. For some journals, issues are available as far back as the 1600's.
  


• MFJ: Maag Journal Finder
  To locate journals that Maag Library receives use Maag Library Catalog to search for journals by title or subject. Journals are kept on the 6th floor of Maag Library, arranged by call number.
  


• Articles in Microforms
  Maag Library has a collection of old newspapers and magazines available on Microform. These items are kept in the Microform Center on the 3rd floor of Maag Library.
  


• Articles in Newspaper Collections
  Maag Library has current newspapers on the main floor as well as various online databases.
  

• Truncation. Use the Help menu in each database to find the truncation symbol.
  (*, ?, and $ are common truncation symbols.) Greek myth* will find the words myth, myths, mythical, mythological
• Nesting. Use parentheses to combine synonyms and broaden your search.
  (gay or homosexual) and (civil unions or marriage)