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Lakehead University and LU Library

Getting Started with Omni

Basic Search Principles

Omni can search five different domains:

  1. Lakehead's physical and online resources
  2. Lakehead's + Omni Libraries: adds physical holdings of the 18 partner university libraries
  3. Lakehead's ejournals, articles, ebooks, etexts etc.
  4. Lakehead's Course Reserves
  5. Add results beyond: vast academic e-resources provided through the vendor's database. Includes the following:

 

Diagram of different materials types in Omni

 Diagram of the different search scopes in Omni
 
Basic Search Tips: apply Boolean operators to focus results
Search Tip Example
AND is assumed between words

happiness (AND) productivity (AND) workplace
Quotations for phases "genetically modified foods"; "inclusive classroom"

Synonyms

OR between related words

habitat OR ecosystem

NOT to exclude terms;

  gambling NOT lottery
Alternate word endings 

* for unlimited characters, especially used for word endings; cultur* for culture, cultural, and culturally
Wildcard characters

?  for single character wildcard; wom?n for woman, women
Brackets to group terms Shakespeare (sonnet OR tragedy); "climate change" (ecosystem* OR habitat*) Ontario
Automatic search expansion

Expands a search for some terms. Option to limit by a term will appear.

ADHD returns attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

heart attack returns myocardial infarction

nose bleed returns epistaxis

 Screenshot of automatic search expansion in Omni