Think You Can Google Your Way to A-worthy Assignments?
Kathleen A. Hanna, Assistant Librarian
IUPUI University Library
Master of Library Science, IUPUI (2002)
Bad news: your instructor has assigned a 10-page research paper.
Worse news: you can't use any internet websites
Now what?
IUPUI Libraries MetaSearch is a one-stop research tool you can use to find the journal articles and other scholarly resources your instructors require for your research papers and other course work. MetaSearch offers a single, simultaneous point of entry to nearly all of University Library's online databases and electronic journals — those important sources that aren't freely available on the Internet, no matter how long you surf. Just log in with your IUPUI network ID and password (just like you use for campus email and Oncourse).
MetaSearch allows you to do a Quick Search for general background on your topic using resources like Encyclopedia Britannica, Academic Search Elite, and IUCAT, the Indiana University libraries online catalog. This lets you search for books and other materials while you simultaneously search databases for journal, magazine, and newspaper articles.
But, you'll have to go a bit further than just general resources. Once you learn the basics about your topic, you'll need to do more in-depth research using databases that focus on particular areas of study. This will help you zero in on precisely what your instructor is asking for in your paper.
Select an area from Subject Categories for more thorough research using subject-specific databases. Resources include Art Full Text, Business Source Premier, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Education Full Text, Social Work Abstracts, Hospitality & Tourism Full Text, and many, many more.
Once you select a subject category, a list of databases will appear.
Choose up to 8 databases to search simultaneously (if you choose any more than 8, the system gets bogged down and you'll have to wait way too long for your results). Your search hits will appear on a summary page; click on any bullseye icon to view your search results.
Your search results will appear on a single page, like this:
The tabs are there to switch between results in each database you searched.
Click on the MORE button to see an abstract (summary) of the article or click the orange find it button to locate the full text (complete) article.
The purpose of MetaSearch's MySpace is to create a personalized list of databases or e-journals in My Resource List, save search histories in My History, or build lists of articles or bibliographies you want to save in My e-Shelf (a great way to keep track of the articles your instructor will require you to cite in your paper). You can also save the article citations to your computer or even email them to yourself or your instructor.
Want some quick coaching on MetaSearch? Visit University Library's reference desk (on the second level of the library) or contact the librarian assigned to your School or Department (see the list http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/libinfo/sub_librarians). Help screens are also available within MetaSearch.
MetaSearch is an ongoing project of the University Library Digital Libraries Team and it will be constantly changing and improving over the coming months, so MetaSearch or resources within it may be unavailable from time to time. We appreciate your patience and suggestions as we continue to expand and improve this exciting new libraries portal!
Access is easy!
MetaSearch is accessible form the IUPUI University Library website http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/ or directly at http://metalib.ulib.iupui.edu.
MetaSearch can be used in University Library by any resident of Indiana who visits the circulation desk (on the second level of the library) and obtains a Guest computer login ID. For details, see http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/libinfo/grs.html.
MetaSearch can also be a valuable tool for the Indianapolis community by providing access to current and historical research materials in many areas, including:
- Arts
- Business
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- Government
- Social Work
- Tourism
Article reprinted with permission from the author and Indiana Insight, a publication of IUPUI.
