Tarleton State University Libraries Unit 3 CHOOSING SEARCH TOOLS   Knowing the types of sources to use when looking for specific kinds of information helps researchers find materials. However, they must also know how to locate the sources. To help researchers, specific search tools (also called finding tools) have been designed to locate different types of information sources. Understanding the characteristics and purposes of different search tools helps researchers choose appropriate ones for their research activities and, in turn, makes their research time more productive and efficient. Therefore, the following pages briefly describe four types of search tools: library catalogs, periodical indexes & abstracts, library databases, and Internet search tools. These descriptions are followed by a page of examples illustrating how specific information needs determine which search tools to use.   Matching Sources to Info Needs Library Catalogs   Library Orientation Site Index Updated 7/2004