Search Success
Search tools
Finding the search tool that matches the type of information you want to use and that works in a way that fits in with your own research approach can save you a lot of time as you carry out the work for your assignments. Here are some of the main search tools we encourage you to explore.
Library catalogue
Search tools for particular subject areas
Search tools for particular types of information
Google Scholar
Library catalogue
If you want to do a quick search for books, journal articles, newspaper articles and more, the library catalogue will bring you results from across the library collections, print and online.
Search tools for particular subject areas
The Library subscribes to a number of specialist tools (sometimes called databases) which will do national and international searches for research on the topic of your choice, so you will also find what is held at other libraries. This is where you will find lots of journal article information and the subject-specific nature of the tools means you can use the language associated with those areas and not worry about whether the terms mean something else in another (the term 'primary' is a key example - it links to lots of different things in different subjects). Choose your subject area from the dropdown menu when you reach the list of tools.
Search tools for particular types of information
Sometimes you know you need a particular television programme, or a newspaper article. Many search tools will allow you to search for those specific things, e.g. Box of Broadcasts for television programmes.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is set up to be used very similarly to a regular Google search, but will only return results from academic research. This makes it a quick and familiar-feeling method of finding academic resources.
Don't pay unnecessarily
You may find that some books and journals within the search results will request payment to be accessed. The Library at York St John University has paid for you to be able to access those that are in our collection, but you'll need to make a small change in your Google Scholar settings for this access to be granted:
- Go to Settings, then Library Links, then search for and choose York St John University – Get it @ YSJ.
This will ensure that you can access our books and journals without payment requests.
The below TED talk explains some of the reasons why it is important to use different sources and search tools. If we stick to our usual sources, we are in danger of missing alternative views and evidence.
Beware online "filter bubbles"
| Search Success is based on SMILE by Imperial College, Loughborough University and the University of Worcester, modified by Library & Learning Services at York St John University. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. |