Google Scholar Tips
Google Scholar searches scholarly literature using the familiar Google interface. This tool is a good starting point when you are not sure which database to select. Google Scholar is also a tab on the library homepage; look above the search box to see this option.
|
Using Google Scholar: Some pros |
Using Google Scholar: Some cons |
|
Instantly available: no need to put in username or password Discover content not available in our library (but can be requested using Interlibrary Loan (ILL)--see the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) box on this page for more information ) Searches across disciplines Once set up to recognize that you can use OhioLINK resources, can click directly from Scholar results into databases (see the Research Tip box on this page) |
Searches all content it considers scholarly; results may contain a large amount of information from unrelated fields of study Thousands and thousands of results without options to limit by author, choose academic field, or sort the results list Not everything scholarly is found in Google Scholar; not everything found in Google Scholar is scholarly! |
Use the results list to get to the full text--don't pay for what you find in Google Scholar when the library has already bought a subscription for you!
Search!
Google Scholar can help you check article citation details, too.
Some pointers for citation checking in Google Scholar:
1. If you only have the article title, search the "article title with quotations around it" in Google Scholar to get to the rest of the citation (and possibly a link to the article).
2. Use the Advanced Search option for more search options, such as author, publication, and date.
Research Tip!
Set Google Scholar preferences on your computer to recognize you are a BGSU student!
Once you set up your preferences, you will see which articles you can get through a BGSU or OhioLINK database.
Do you Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is the BGSU Libraries interlibrary loan (ILL) system--it is the system used to get materials BGSU does not own.
Log in to your Interlibrary Loan (ILL) account in a separate window while searching for books and articles; this saves typing much of the citation information needed when requesting articles.
Register for Interlibrary Loan (ILL) here. This account is separate from other accounts you may have at BGSU, including your library account. You will need to create a username and password to request and retrieve materials.