The Encyclopedia Britannica, one of the world’s most reliable research sources, is available online through the PCC Library. At the Library's web page, select "Reference Resources", then "Encyclopedia Britannica". 

Enter a word, phrase, or question:
     Example: Toni Morrison __ Articles __ Index __ Dictionary
Type in your search term or name, make a selection of the three types offered, and click on SEARCH. You can also scan through the remainder of the page and access these areas:

• Announcements
• Features
• Browse A-Z Lists, including biographies, Internet links, and yearbooks
• Knowledge in Depth (700 long articles)
• Multi-media links (articles with audio, etc)
• Nations of the World
• Biographies
• Numerous other links

There are a different ways to search Britannica Online. One way is "plain English", such as "What was Switzerland’s role in the French Revolution?" Another technique is using the connectors and, adj, and not in a "Boolean search".

Examples: Switzerland AND French AND Revolution (all 3 terms will be searched)
Citizen ADJ Kane (both terms will be retrieved if located next to each other)
Evolution NOT Darwin (evolution will be searched, and Darwin will be eliminated)

Search for "Citizen ADJ Kane"; select "articles" and click on "Search". This is what you will retrieve:

The Hollywood Studio System. From Motion Pictures: History: the Pre-World War II Sound Era. If the coming of sound changed the aesthetic dynamics of the film-making process….

Mankiewicz, Herman. B. Nov. 7, 1897, NY, NY, US---d. March 5, 1953, Los Angeles, CA)American screenwriter, journalist, playwright, etc. (plus 11 other results)

Search for "morphology"; select "Index" section. This is what you’ll retrieve (each one is a link):
Morphology (biol).
Summary
Major treatment
Concern in paper production
Founded by Goethe
For a list of related subjects, see SPECTRUM: The Biological Sciences
Morphology (chem)
Figure
Polymers
Morphology (ling.)
Summary
Make your selection to retrieve more detailed information.

Using "morphology" again, search "Dictionary". This is what you’ll retrieve:

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary contains 1 item relevant to this query.

Mor-phol.o.gy: n. (G Morphologie, fr. Morph + -logie –logy) 1830

1a a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants (etc)

• Use the tool bar to navigate through your search path. Those used the most include BACK, FORWARD and HOME.
• Enter your search term in lower case if you want to retrieve everything that contains those words. For example, ‘aids’ retrieves information on economic aid, foreign aid, etc. If typed in capital letters (AIDS), it will retrieve articles about acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
• Use the search bar on each screen to either do a new search, or modify the one you have started.

• Britannica Online is easy to use and the information is literally "just a click away".
• Information can be easily printed or saved without software obstruction.
• Britannica uses hypertext links to enable the user to move through the information. For example, searching for the movie "Saving Private Ryan" will retrieve movie information, but also links to information about WWII. This helps the user learn about larger issues and encourages them to continue through the research process.

Tip Sheet #57 (June 2006)