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How to Use the IFSI Library: Information Literacy for Firefighters

This Libguide is for the Firefighters that use the Illinois Fire Service Institute Library Catalog and materials who may need guidance on how to locate and manage resources for classes and research.

Quick Tips

If you have one good source but are struggling for more, citation hunt! Look through the resources that an author used to find more related content.

Use Boolean Search Operators: AND, OR, NOT, Parentheses

  • These will help you narrow down or expand search results in a database. See this LibGuide Advanced Search tab for more information.

Using sources like Wikipedia or Google can help you identify new search terms to search. Do NOT use them as quality sources to cite but as reference points to begin or contextualize your research.

So I need some information, where do I start?

The IFSI Library Website Guide goes in depth on how to use Boolean search methods and various search felds in order to locate library materials. If you are beginning your research, it is best to do a simple subject term search. For example, a search of the phrase "breathing apparatus" retrieves 282 search results to browse for research.

If you are looking for something specific, like Fire Officer Principles and Practices or a narrow research topic, it is better to narrow your search by material type and year in order to see if the edition that you need is available. If you have any problems locating the item you are looking for, please give us a call.