Learn to Find, Access, and Manage Information

Ask a Librarian

More about Instruction…

Four of the most commonly used tools are:

  1. Individual Article Databases

    2. If you know the database you wish to search:

    1. Click on the "Database" tab on the Library Website
      1. Type the name of the database you'd like to search in the text box and press "Search"

        OR
      2. Choose a database by going through the alphabetical list and clicking the first letter of the database name
    2. Click on the name of the database
    3. When searching, click Find It to access the full-text of an article

    If you dont know the database you wish to search:

    1. Click the "Databases" tab on the Library Website
    2. Select "Databases By Subject" to browse databases grouped by subject categories

      OR
    3. Click "Introductory" to see a list of introductory databases to search

      OR
    4. Click "Top 10" to see a list of the most popular databases searched
    5. Select the specific database you'd like to search
    6. When searching, click Find It to access the full-text of an article

  2. Articles Tab Search

    3. Quickly search 3 general databases simultaneously

    1. Click the "Articles" tab on the Library Website
    2. Choose a field from the pull-down menu below the search box
    3. Enter your search terms and click Search
      Note: The search may take up to 45 seconds to complete
    4. Review the results and revise your search as needed
    5. When searching, click Find It to access the full-text of an article

  3. Databases by Subject Search

    4. Quickly search databases by subject simultaneously

    1. Click the "Databases" tab on the Library Website
    2. Select "Databases By Subject" under the search box
    3. Select a subject category to search a group of databases simultaneously - the databases that are checked in the list are those that will be searched
    4. Choose a field from the pull-down menu below the search box
    5. Enter your search terms and click Search
      Note: The search may take up to 45 seconds to complete
    6. Review the results and revise your search as needed
    7. When searching, click Find It to access the full-text of an article

  4. Google Scholar

    1. Go to scholar.google.com, or find Google Scholar in the Top 10 Databases list
    2. If you are using a non-library computer do the following:
    3. Click on Scholar Preferences (next to the search box)
      1. Type Wisconsin in the Library Links box and click "Find Library"
      2. Select University of Wisconsin Madison
      3. Click on "Save Preferences" (bottom of page)
      4. Enter your search terms and click Search
    4. Review the results and revise your search as needed
    5. When searching, click Find It to access the full-text of an article

    Play ButtonClick the play button to watch a short video on selecting the right place to start searching.

     

<< Return to research steps

Subject
Any one of the topics or themes of a work.
General Resources
Resources that cover non-specialized topics.
Database
A collection of records that can be searched by computer. In libraries, it usually means online indexes of journal articles. (Bates College)
E-Resource Gateway
One of the UW-Madison’s online resources via which you can search article databases.
Find It
By clicking the Find It button, you can find out whether the full text of your article is available online or physically available in a library.

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