ProQuest provides access to approximately 34 bibliographic databases covering various subject areas.  Full-text for many articles is available in all databases, though complete content for every indexed article is not available.  Full-text is offered in both HTML and .PDF formats. 

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 Databases link at the top of the page.  From the database list, click on the ProQuest link.

·        Remote access to ProQuest is available for faculty, staff and students.  For remote access, when

·        off-campus, simply click on the Databases link and then click on the ProQuest 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 main ProQuest page, the system begins in the default search of Multiple Databases and Advanced Search mode.  To choose a specific collection or collections for searching, click on the Select Multiple Databases link next to the Databases box at the bottom of the search screen.   Click the Clear All Databases link and then click in the boxes next to the collection(s) you would like to search.  A check will appear in each chosen box.  Click the Continue button at the top. 

Searching 

There are two modes of searching: Basic, and Advanced.  The recommended mode is Advanced.

·        Advanced mode provides the user with three keyword boxes, three field selection boxes with drop-down menus for accessing different record fields, two Boolean operator boxes (for And, Or, And Not, Within 3, and PRE/1 searches) and the ability to set limits on the search (i.e., date, full-text, peer-reviewed, etc.)  To access more search options (i.e., article type, publication type, etc.), click on the More Search Options link at the bottom of the screen.  To add more search boxes, click on the Add a Row link.

·        To search, enter your search terms in the keyword 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 term, choose your operators (And, Or, And Not, etc.) as needed, set any limits and choose a date range if desired.  Click on Search.

·        The system will retrieve your results and display them on the Results screen.  The brief form of each retrieved record is displayed in a list. Where it is available, full-text is indicated by the Full-text (plain HTML), Text + Graphics (HTML with embedded graphics) and Full-text - PDF (.PDF file) links beneath the citation.

·        To access the full-text click on any of the full-text links or click on the blue title link for the item. 

Marking and Printing Records           

·        To mark an item from the results list, click in the box next to the number of the item you wish to mark.  A check will appear in the box.  You can also mark a record on the Document View screen, by clicking in the box next to Mark Document at the top of the record screen.  Mark as many items as you wish.

·        When you are ready to view your marked items, place your mouse on the My Research tab in the menu bar at the top of the screen and click.  The list of your marked records will be isolated.

·        To print your marked list from the My Research screen, click on the CreateYour Bibliography link. Choose your format and citation style, then click the Print button at the bottom of the screen. (You can also download and email from this screen. Just click on the appropriate button.)  The Print dialog box will launch and you can click Print.  If you want to print the full-text, you must access each full-text article separately and print each one out using the Print button at the top of the record. 

Emailing Records 

·        To Email a citation or the full-text of a record, when on the My Research screen, click on the Email Marked Documents link at the top of the screen.  Select the citation style and then choose from the following formats:  Brief Citation, Document Summary (citation and abstract), Full-text or Text + Graphics or Full-text - PDF (if available).  Select plain text or HTML for the email  and enter your Email address in the box provided.  If you like, enter a subject in the Subject box and a message in the Message box and then click the Send Email button.

·        You can also Email articles from the Document View screen.  Click on the Email link at the top of the screen.  Choose the format in which you would like the articles to be sent and fill out the Email address, subject and message boxes.  Click on the Send Email button. 

Downloading Records 

·        Records that are not .PDF files can be downloaded to a flash drive (USB) by using the File-Save As function from the browser menu.  Do this while on the Document View screen for the full record.  You can also save your marked citations by clicking on the Create Your Bibliography link while on the My Research screen.  Alternatively, you can export your citations into a reference manager program such as Endnote, ProCite, RefWorks or Reference Manager.  To download .PDF records, use the Save function in the Adobe Acrobat Reader Plugin.

·        To print a search history, while on the Advanced Search screen, click on the Recent Searches link and then click on the browser Print icon.  To save a search history to a flash drive, while on the My Research screen, click on Recent Searches and then choose the File/Save As function from the browser menu.  Your citations and search history will be saved.

(Revised 9/4/2009)

since 9/5/2006