Search a wealth of information not available on the Web!  Database contents are not available using tools like Google because they are only available through subscriptions.  The library pays the subscription fee - all you need is a library card and password.

With the Two Libraries, One Search discovery tool, you can search different databases and catalogues at the same time. 

Things you need to know:

• Some Databases are restricted to IN LIBRARY use only.  These include All Data (Poirier Branch), QP Legaleze and several statistical databases.  They are available at the Library's internet stations using the One Search icon found on the desktop.
  
• All other databases and catalogues are available from outside the library.  You must have a library card and password to access the databases.
  
• The following catalogues are available to all users (no library card is required):
   
  •  Coquitlam Public Library (CPL)
  •  Port Moody public library (PMPL)
  •  Outlook - the B.C. union catalogue of public and college libraries

Keyword searching:

• Using your mouse, click in the box(es) next to the catalogues or databases you want to search.  For information on the content of the database, click on the  .
  
• Type your search words in the search box and click on Search.  For example:
  
  haida and art
  vancouver and canucks
  salmon and "fraser river"
  
  
• The search results page will show the number of matches per database and will list the first 10 - 15 for each database searched.  You can view the article or abstract by clicking on the title link.  Note that not all articles are full text - some will only indicate publication details and a summary or abstract.
  Click on Next Set to view the next 10 articles.
  
• You can also view the articles by clicking on the number next to the database name or VIEW on the results page.  A list of articles will appear.  Full text articles will be shown as HTML or PDF full text.  Note that not all articles are full text - some will only indicate publication details and a summary or abstract
  
• If your search produces no results, check your spelling or type "and" in between the search words.  Use quotation (" ") marks to indicate phrases.
   
• To start a new search, close the results window and click on Keyword search at the top of the Agent search page.

Browse searching:

Browse searching produces a list of authors, titles and subjects.  If you know the name of the author, the title of the book or the subject heading:

• Click on Browse on the search page
  
• Using your mouse, click in the box(es) next to the catalogues you want to search
  
• Type the exact title or subject or author's name (eg:  Mowat, Farley)
  
• Click on the heading box to select the required heading (i.e. all, author, title, etc.) and click on Search
  
• Click on View to see the list;  click on any name, title or subject to see all the results.

Journal Issue Search: (for Masterfile, Academic Search, Business Source Elite and Hospitality and Tourism Index)

If you wish to look at all the articles within one issue of a magazine/journal:

• At the search screen, click on Advanced Search
  
• Using your mouse, place a check in the box(es) next to the databases you want to search
  
• Type the letters JN followed by the magazine title   
  e.g.   JN economist  or   JN maclean's  or  JN chatelaine
  Click on Search
  
• A list of articles will appear.   Click on any article indicating full text (HTML or PDF full text).  The articles are sorted by date, with the most recent listed first.

Please note that not all articles are full text.  Some magazines and journals note publication details and brief summaries (abstracts) only.

Direct Search

• You can search almost all of the databases directly.  Simply click on the database name under the heading Direct Search Databases.  For information on database content and instructions, simply click on the  .
  
• If you are using the IE7 browser, you will need to right click to use the back command, or use the ALT + <-- (left arrow) to go back with some databases.