Monthly Archives: November 2007

Google Scholar and Library Web site: Different resources, different results

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Have you used Google Scholar to find information for research or patient care? Google Scholar is one place to start for such information, but the Library Web site has research and patient care resources that Google Scholar can’t offer.
Why? The Library purchases proprietary, professional-level information that publishers will not give away for free and makes that information available to UT Southwestern affiliates on the Library Web site. Examples are AccessMedicine (medical textbooks), Micromedex (drug and toxicology information), UpToDate (point-of-care information), and the Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice online.
Do the options on the Library Web site leave you wondering where to begin? If so, here are some tips:

  • To access a known journal title: Use the Ejournals A to Z list, from which you can often link to full-text of the desired articles.
  • To get to a known database or other resource: Use the “Search” box (upper left corner of home page).
  • To find information resources grouped by subject: Click on the Resources by Subject list on the home page.
  • To identify a database that will give you access to the information you want: Click on the Databases Guide link under the “Biomedical/General Resources” heading to see a list of databases. For information about any database, move your mouse over the “I” icon next to the database name.

Our research librarians are pleased to advise you on the best sources for the information you need. Just call 214-648-2003, or use the Ask A Librarian page (under “Get Help/Ask Us”) on the Library Web site.
If you use Google Scholar to quickly get an overview of a topic and/or to locate some relevant materials quickly, remember that the results may not be as current or comprehensive as you need. That said, in Google Scholar you will sometimes see a “Find it @ Library” link which you can click to get to full text provided by the UT Southwestern Library.
To learn more about Google Scholar and how best to use it, check the About Google Scholar page on the Google Scholar Web site. From this page, you can link to two other useful pages: Google Scholar Help and Advanced Scholar Search Tips.