Faster Way to Search Electronic Resources: Find it!
On August 22, 2005, the Washington University Libraries launched Find it!, a search engine that allows users to search up to ten of the Libraries' databases at once. Rather than going through the time-consuming process of searching one database after another, you can quickly access information from a variety of sources. This powerful online tool makes navigating the vast amount of information available electronically much faster and easier, making crucial research more manageable for both novice and experienced researchers.
With Find it! you can search pre-selected groups of databases or create your own sets of online resources. This service will be especially attractive to novice researchers, for whom accessing online resources can be a confusing process. More experienced researchers will appreciate the ability to create your own sets of often-searched databases. Find it! also allows you to customize your research by saving search results in the same place you search. And because Find it! provides access to a variety of databases at once, it is also useful to scholars doing cross-disciplinary research.
Changes in technology are transforming the way we research. Scholars rely on digital resources, which provide vast amounts of information and are constantly updated. With Find it! the Libraries provide the Washington University community with a valuable tool for navigating the complicated and changing world of online resources, helping scholars take advantage of all of the data available.
About Find it! Several Ways to Search
QuickSearch: An easy and efficient way to get started on research, QuickSearch allows you to search Quick Sets, pre-selected groups of databases that provide broad subject coverage. You are able to immediately access some of the most important and frequently searched databases in a variety of fields.
MultiSearch: MultiSearch offers subject categories with more focused database offerings that have been selected by the Libraries' subject librarians. You can search up to ten databases at once and can customize your searches.
Find Database: Find Database allows you to locate specific databases by title or subject, including sub-categories, for even more selective, focused searching.
Personalized Searches
Find it! allows you to create your own research space called
My Find it! where you can save sets of databases, article citations, and search histories. My Space allows you to consolidate and organize your Find it! research in one place. Within My Find it! you will find:
My Databases - where you create your own Quick Sets of often-searched databases, which will appear on the QuickSearch and MultiSearch pages.
eShelf - where you save article citations.
History - where you save specific searches and will soon be able to receive emails of updates on those searches.
Now that You've Found It, Go Get It!
Find it! allows you to easily access the full text of many articles you find. Find it! searches across databases, including the Libraries' catalog, to find the full-text version of an article, and then the Get it! function of the search engine either links to the full text or tells you where you can locate it.
Find it! Training and Help
Choosing the Articles or Databases tabs in the Search Resources box on the Libraries' homepage will connect you to Find it! Log in with your WUSTL Key username and password. For help while using Find it! you can go to the "Help" link located on top right of every page. See these Frequently Asked Questions for more information, and the librarians are always available to answer questions.
If you run into problems while using Find it! please click on the Problems? Tell us! link at the bottom of any Find it! screen.

