Search for articles in library databases can take hours of trial and error. You will likely need to adjust the keywords, subject headings, and limiters you use to get your search exactly where you want it. Keeping track of your database searches using a search log can help you identify successful strategies and avoid repeating searches.

Search logs can be as simple as a screenshot of your search results page, or as complicated as a color-coded Excel sheet. You should consider including the following information in your search log:

• Date the search was preformed
• Database
• Search terms
• Limiters (filters) or expanders used
• Number of results found
• Notes regarding the quality of the search strategy or what you might do differently for the next search

Download the following attachment to access a search log template for Microsoft Excel. This log is meant for large research projects and may be overly complex for smaller projects like research papers.