USearch
What is USearch?
USearch pulls together resources from multiple sources and displays them in a single list of relevance-ranked results (similar to a Google search). Unfiltered search results may contain:
- Journals & articles
- Print & e-books
- Conference proceedings
- Newspaper articles
- Theses & dissertations
- Government publications
- CDs & DVDs
- Music scores
- Images
- Local digitized collections
Because it searches multiple sources, you may see an overwhelming number of results for your initial search. Use the filters on the left side of the screen to refine your results by format, date, available online, peer-reviewed, library location and more.
Search results can include both items the library has and items you can request from other libraries using interlibrary loan.
When should I use USearch?
- I want to find books, articles, and other sources about my topic using one search.
- I want to find a journal article.
- I am starting my research and want to see what is available on my subject.
- I want to start with a broad topic and refine my search.
USearch includes most of the resources you are able to access through the library, but it does not search the contents of EBSCO databases (e.g. Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, ERIC, EBSCOhost eBook Collection, etc.). Individual articles and ebooks from EBSCO databases will not appear in USearch results unless they are also available from another non-EBSCO database. Browse a complete list of EBSCO databases here.
Catalogue
What is the catalogue?
The catalogue is a searchable record of everything the library has purchased or licensed. It searches most of the library collection including books, theses, music recordings, scores, and journal titles but cannot search for journal articles.
Everything that is in the catalogue can also be found in USearch, but there are some reasons you might choose the catalogue instead of USearch.
When should I use the catalogue?
- I want to find a book on the shelf in the library.
- I need to put a hold on a book or request a book that is currently out on loan.
- I want to search for a book or journal by title or author.
- I know the call number of the item I am looking for.
Databases - A to Z List
What is the A to Z list?
The A to Z List is a list of all of the databases and other electronic resources the library licenses for your use. This is the first step to help you find the right database, then you can start your research by searching for your topic from that database's interface.
Some disciplines have major databases that are widely used by that community (e.g. PubMed in the health sciences). Other databases have information for many subjects (e.g. Academic Search Complete) or are focused on a specific topic (e.g. Early English Books Online).
You can use the A to Z list to search for a specific database by name or you can browse the list to discover databases recommended for your subject. If you don't know which databases are commonly used in your discipline, check our subject guides for recommendations from your subject librarian.
When should I use the A to Z list?
- I know the name of the database I am looking for.
- I need to find sources that are not available in USearch (e.g. health sciences databases like PubMed).
- I am doing intensive research in a specific subject area.
Electronic Journals
What is the electronic journal search?
If you are looking for a specific journal title you can use this tool to find online-accessible journals that the library subscribes to. The library pays to license to more than 61,000 full-text online journals that current USask faculty, staff, and students can access using your NSID and password.
This tool does not search for individual articles by title or author name.
When should I use the electronic journals search?
- I know the name of the journal I am looking for.
- I want to find journals that I have full-text online access to.
- I have a citation for an article and I want to know if the library has online access to the journal it is published in.
Google Scholar
What is Google Scholar?
Google Scholar is a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature in one place. It does not provide comprehensive coverage of the literature of any particular discipline. It will search for articles, theses, books, abstracts, patents, court opinions, and case law from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, and web sites across many disciplines and sources. Use boolean operators to narrow your search parameters.
You may not be able to access everything you find using Google Scholar because many online journals are behind publisher paywalls. If you are using Google Scholar on the campus WiFi network, you will automatically have full-text access to to everything the library subscribes to. If you are off campus, you can still get access to online resources by updating your settings in Google Scholar.
- From Google Scholar, click on the in the top left corner of the screen and select Settings then Library Links
- In the search box on the Library Links page search for 'University of Saskatchewan'
- Make sure all University of Saskatchewan checkboxes are selected then Save
When you search Google Scholar, if the library has access, you will now see Fulltext@USaskLibrary on the right side of your list of search results. This link will take you to the full text version via your USask library account. These preferences will be saved for all future searches on that computer.
For more information about accessing library resources off campus see the Connect From Home page.
When should I use Google Scholar?
- When I want to do a broad, interdisciplinary search.
- When I want to search across many academic sources.
- When I want to search for a specific citation (copy and paste into the search box).