Vanderbilt University Library Catalog
Selecting the best search scope for your research needs:
Library Catalog vs. VU Collections vs. Articles
Search Scope | What is included? | When should I use it? |
Library Catalog |
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VU Collections |
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Articles |
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For a more detailed explanation of your search scope options consult What am I searching?
Searching the Library Catalog - Tips and Tricks
Step 1: Start your search process by brainstorming a list of keywords that describe the main concepts of your topic or question. |
Step 2: Use these keywords for your initial searches. Step 3: Use the Subject Heading links in the Library Catalog record to refine your search. |
Google Scholar provides access to "peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations."
What Google Scholar does not contain, in most cases, is the fulltext of the articles -- but it does work with the library's Findit@VU service to help you get to the fulltext when available. If you are on campus, Findit@VU will automatically appear -- but if you are off campus it won't. Not clicking on Findit@VU may lead to you receiving a message indicating that you must purchase the article to view it.
HathiTrust has created the Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS), which will allow Vanderbilt students, faculty, and staff online reading access to materials that Vanderbilt Libraries own in print during this period of remote teaching, learning, and research. Access is available until further notice.
**The print editions of books made available through HathiTrust ETAS will not be available for check out for the duration of our participation in the service.
Connect to books in HathiTrust directly from the Library Catalog:
Users need to click on the yellow Log in button and choose Vanderbilt University as their institution and then login with their VUnet ID and password to gain access.
Click the "Temporary access" link in the record to access the ebook and don't forget to click the "Check Out" button!
Some caveats: