What do you search when using the Library search box tool?

You can use the search box on the library's start page to find

• books – printed books and e-books
• articles – journal articles and articles in encyclopedias
• journals
• theses.

When does searching there work best?

The Library's search box is most helpful when you

• already know which book / article / journal / dissertation you want
• are only interested in material that you can access directly through the library, either online or in print format
• have just started searching information on a particular topic and want an overview
• have a multidisciplinary subject
• cannot find a more specific database that covers your subject area.

How do I search?

Usually, it is enough to type in a few words from the title, and possibly the author's last name, when you already know which book, article, or journal you are looking for. If you get too many results, you can always use the facets to the left of the results list to limit your search.If you type the article's doi or PMID number into the search box, you will find the article immediately, provided it is an article that the library has access to.

A large part of the material accessed through the search box tool is searchable in full text. This means that the search words you use can be located anywhere in the articles, not just in the title, abstract or subject headings. This can be useful if you are researching a narrow subject, or if you are looking for a specific term or phrase. As in most other databases, you can combine your search words with AND and OR.

Did your results list end up being too small? 

The default setting is that you only search for material (print and electronic) that is purchased or subscribed to by the library. However, if you check the box "Search for material without access through the library," you will get results for material that the library does not subscribe to. These can usually be ordered via interlibrary loan, but you may also find open access material that is freely available.

When is it better to use a bibliographic database?

A bibliographic database, such as PubMed, CINAHL or Psycinfo, collects material in a specific subject area, while the Library's search box is a search tool that collects and makes all the material that the library has in its collections available. Use a bibliographic database when you

• want to conduct a more thorough, systematic search on a topic
• do not want to limit your search to library material
• want to use a subject heading list such as MeSH terms or CINAHL Headings
• are looking for articles published this week.