Madonna University Library
Electronic Resources
FIRSTSEARCH
|
Madonna University Library |
FirstSearch provides access to approximately 16 bibliographic subject-specific databases. Some full-text databases are available and others are cross-indexed with these to provide limited full-text.
Getting Started
From the Windows Desktop, click twice on the Internet Explorer icon.
For on-campus use, from the Library= s homepage, click on the All Databases link at the top of the page. From the database list, click on the FirstSearch link.
Remote access to FirstSearch is available for faculty, staff and students. For remote access, when off-campus, simply click on the All Databases link and then click on the FirstSearch link. A password screen will appear. Enter the password and click Login. To obtain the necessary password, contact a reference librarian at (734) 432-5767..
On the FirstSearch Home page, if you know which database you would like to use, click on the down arrow to the right of the Jump to Advanced Search box and choose the database you want to use from the list. Otherwise, use the List All Databases, List Databases by Topic or Suggest Best Databases links in the blue menubar at the top of the screen to see what databases are available in your subject area.
From the Jump to Advanced Search box, the system will take you directly to the database you have chosen. You will be in Advanced Search mode.
Searching
There are two common modes of searching: Basic Search or Advanced Search. If you used the Jump to Advanced Search box, then you are in that mode upon entering the chosen database. Basic Search mode is available on the opening page, but Advanced Search is the default for all search methods and is the recommended mode.
Advanced Search mode provides the user with three input boxes for search terms, three field selection boxes with drop-down menus for accessing different record fields, two Boolean operator boxes (for And, Not, Or searches) and the ability to set limits on the search (i.e., year, language and type.)
To search, enter your search terms in the input boxes (use as many as you need), choose the appropriate record field from the drop-down menu next to each box where you have entered a search word, choose your operators (And, Not, Or) as needed, set any limits and click on the Search button.
The system will retrieve your results and display them on the List of Records screen. To access the Detailed Record, you can click on the blue title link for the article or you can choose the Detailed Record link at the top of the screen in the blue menubar. To access the full-text (if it is available), you can click on the View
Full Text in HTML Format or View Full Text in PDF Format link beneath the chosen record.
Arrows are provided at the top and the bottom of the List of Records screen and the Detailed Record screen to facilitate movement backward and forward between your retrieved records.
Marking and Printing Records
To mark an item while on the List of Records screen, click in the box next to the title link. A / will be placed in the box, marking the record. To mark an item while in the Detailed Record, click in the box at the top of the record with the word Mark next to it. A / will be placed in the box marking the record.
Mark as many records as you like and when you are ready to view them, click on the Marked Records link in the blue menubar at the top of the screen. This will provide a comprehensive screen displaying all the records you have marked. To see the Detailed Record click on the Detailed view link at the top of the screen. To return to the Brief record while in the Detailed Record, click on the Brief view link at the top of the screen.
To print the citations that you have marked, use the Print icon at the top of the screen. This will display your results without the search system graphics and launch your print dialog box. Click OK in the print dialog box to print the records.
This will only print the citations. If some of the marked items are full-text, you must click on the full-text link to access the full-text and then click on the Print button to display the full-text without the search system graphics. Then you must click OK on the print dialog box.
To clear the marks, while on the Marked Records screen, click on the Clear Marks button at the top or bottom of the screen. To clear the marks on the List of Records screen, click on the Clear Marks button at the bottom of the page.
Accessing Library Holdings
To find out which libraries hold a particular item, when on the Detailed Record screen for the item, click on the Libraries button at the top of the page. The system will display the library holdings.
Emailing Records
To Email a citation or the full-text of an article to yourself, when on the Detailed Record screen or the Full Text screen, click on the Email button. (You can also Email from the List of Records screen.)
The Email screen will appear with a box where you should type your Email address. There will also be some choices in regard to record detail, format, etc. Make the appropriate choices and click on the Send button. You will receive a message telling you that your Email request has been successfully sent.
Downloading Records
Records that aren't .PDF can be downloaded using the File-Save As function from the browser menu. For best results, save the record as an .htm file. .PDF records can be downloaded using the Save function in Adobe Acrobat Reader Plugin. Save to A: or a flash drive when in the Library.
To exit FirstSearch, click on the Exit link above the blue menu bar at the top right of the screen.
(Revised 9/12/2007)
since 9/05/2006