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SEARCHING THE LIBRARY DATABASES. A step-by-step guide. Objectives of this guide. To illustrate step-by-step how to search for information from the databases the library subscribes to To supplement and complement the training offered on e-resources. Launching your search.
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SEARCHING THE LIBRARY DATABASES A step-by-step guide
Objectives of this guide • To illustrate step-by-step how to search for information from the databases the library subscribes to • To supplement and complement the training offered on e-resources
Launching your search • Go to the “Google Scholar” website • Googlescholar acts as a springboard for your research • It saves you time as it will direct you to the database the library subscribes to for the search you have made
You are redirected to Sciencedirect, a database the library subscribes to • To open the document, click on PDF
Options • Print the document • Email • Save to “my sciencedirect” • Save to my documents • Save to a device (USB, CD) • Or open PDF version, and • Perform one of the above options
2nd option: Search the databases directly • Launch the Internet browser • Log on to the UNIVEN website
Benefits of signing in to”myebscohost” • You can save searches for future review • You can retrieve previously stored information • You can make folders of your search topics for future retrieval • You can requests alerts for information concerning your topic when such becomes available
Select relevant databases • The library subscribes to ten databases covering a variety of subjects • Some are subject-specific (e.g. Medline for health sciences) and some are multidisciplinary (e.g. Academic Search Premier) • NB: coverage is fully explained in the hyperlink under the database name under “more information”
Take note of the ff • Search mode • Apply related words (check the box to retrieve more information) • Limit your results (select either full text or peer reviewed) • Specify publication dates (e.g ranging from 2000-2010)
Sort options for your results • Date descending; • Date ascending; • Author • Source • Relevance NB: select one option (depending on your needs; but usually relevance is preferred)
What to do with the results • Click on the title to read the abstract • Click on folder to send the article to your folders (only if you signed in to “my Ebscohost) • Open the full text document • Print • Email to your own address or to others
What to do with the full-text document • Print • Save to “my documents” • Save to a folder • Save to a saving device (e.g. USB, CD) • Send to an email address
Take note of the following • The above search steps can be used to search all databases across the board • The search screens may be a little different but basically most features are the same
Need more information? • Contact any librarian for clarity if you still need help
Take a quiz Tick either true (T) or False (F) • A search should ideally be launched using ‘google.scholar’ (T / F) • E-journals are either general or discipline-specific (T / F) • Retrieved documents can be saved on the database for future use if you sign in to “My Sciencedirect; My Ebscohost, etc” (T / F) • Search strategies are applicable to all the databases (T / F) End of tutorial!