New Faster Way to Search Electronic Resources: Find it!
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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. Now, rather than going through the time-consuming process of searching one database after another, researchers are able to 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. |
The Libraries will host four Find it! training sessions from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm in the Arc Technology Center on Level A of Olin Library on September 7, 14, 21, and 28. |
With Find it! users can search pre-selected groups of databases or create their 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 their own sets of often-searched databases. Find it! also allows users to customize their research by saving search results in the same place they 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
Find it! gives you several pathways to electronic resources.
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 Space 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 Space 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
The Libraries will host four Find it! training sessions from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm in the Arc Technology Center on Level A of Olin Library on September 7, 14, 21, and 28. These sessions are open to the Washington University community.
You will find the link to Find it! at the top of the main menu on the Libraries' homepage (library.wustl.edu). You will need to know your Washington University ID in order to create an account and save information in the search engine. For help while using Find it! you can go to the "Help" link located on every page within the search engine. See these Frequently Asked Questions for more information, and the librarians are always available to answer questions.
Please note that Find it! will undergo changes and improvements over the next several months as the Libraries receive feedback from users and as upgrades occur. 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.
Date of announcement: 8/22/2005