Texas Reference Center

About Texas Reference Center

Just as big as Texas is physically, it has just a great amount of resources. So you ask yourself, is there a one-stop-shop that provides access to information about Texas? Indeed there is and it is called the Texas Reference Center. It provides full-text to 30 magazines and journals, 12 newspapers, and 100 books all about Texas to include history, ethnic and cultural diversity, gender studies, literature, public health, home and gardening, sports, and leisure. Like many other resources available through TexShare, the Texas Reference Center utilizes the EBSCO interface. EBSCO anticipates their collection to have grown substantially in 2007 and anticipates providing full-text to 100 magazines and journals, 20 newspapers, and 200 books. Therefore, keep your eye out on this wonderful resource as it expands its collection.

Below are examples of some of the different things already in the collection.

Magazines/Journals

Best in Texas, Texas Business Review, Texas Gardener, Texas Monthly, Texas Library Journal

Newspapers

The Free Press, The Gazette, The Twin Cities News

Books

Artists who Painted Texas, Book of Texas Days, Chronology & Bibliography of Texas Library History

Coming soon…

Newspapers

The Houston Chronicle and Valley Morning Star (Harlingen)

Books

Christmas in Texas, Cooking Texas Style: Tenth Anniversary Edition, Geologic Atlas of Texas

	Alert: The search functions are hosted by EBSCO and utilize their web interface. When going to the search interface, it automatically goes to the Advanced Search tab, be sure to change it to Basic Search or Visual Search, as desired and that the database indicated is indeed Texas Reference Center.

Searching the Texas Reference Center

There are 3 different ways to conduct searches; basic, advanced, and visual searching.

Basic Search

To be used when conducting casual searches or general information seeking, browsing, or reading. Follow the steps below:

1.Enter search term in the Find field and click search. This will usually be the name of the news source you want.

2.Use the Refine Search tab to narrow or limit the search by date, or publication type.

3.Utilize Boolean operators (e.g. and, or, not) to limit the search.

Below is a screenshot of what the Basic Search interface looks like.

Advanced Search

to be used for in-depth information seeking. The search function automatically provides Boolean operators (e.g. and, or, not). Follow the steps below:

1.Enter up to 3 search terms in the Find field and select the appropriate Boolean operator. You will also need to select a field in which the search term will appear. This is optional and can be left to the default.

2.Use the Refine Search tab to further narrow or limit the search by date, publication type.

3.Boolean operators are automatically provided. Select the appropriate operator.

Below is a screenshot of what the Advanced Search interface looks like.

Visual Search

To be used for a visual representation of how the search term fits in with relation to other categories or subjects. A visual search searches across subjects. Follow the steps below:

1.Enter search term in the Find field.

2.Utilize Boolean operators (e.g. and, or, not) as appropriate, or needed.

3.The circles represent categories. Within the circles, subcategories are provided. Click on the circle to view the contents.

4.The squares are the links to the specific articles. Click the square to access the article.

5.To go in and out of circles or squares, just click outside the shape. Zooming in and out of shapes narrows or broadens the search.

6.To return to the entire map, click on Top Level.

Below is a screenshot of what the Visual Search interface looks like.

Return to top