The Libraries’ QuickSearch allows you to search a ton of library databases all at once (though, unfortunately, it can’t search all of them, so don’t give up if you can’t find what you’re looking for on QuickSearch!). QuickSearch is more robust than Google Scholar, and it shows you materials you can access as a UofM student/employee! We created a “Find and Download Full Text Articles in UofM Libraries QuickSearch” video (7 min.) to help guide you through the process, too.

Here are a few tips and tricks to make the most out of your QuickSearch experience:

• If you’re off-campus, log in (the yellow bar that says “Hello, Guest”) before searching. If you’re on campus, it knows you’re an authorized user.
• You can search keywords, journal article titles, authors, journal titles, and more. Use the Advanced Search option to add more search fields.
• Narrow your results down quickly by using the left-hand Refine Results column, which allows you to limit to
  • Full Text = you’ll have immediate access to the entire text of a material
  • Peer Reviewed = scholarly/academic materials your instructors would like for you to use for many research assignments
  • Publication date = helps you limit to more current materials
  • Format = kind of material (journal articles, eBooks, etc.)
  • Other Refiners may be useful, like Subject, Geography, Journal; think about what you’re looking for, and use limiters that help you narrow down.
• Note that there is a default limiter in the Refine Results column: Available in Library Collection. This means that you’re seeing what UofM has access (one way or another) to. If you’re working on specific research, and your limited results aren’t working, try removing the Available in Library Collection to see what else is available.

• If you come across a material that says “Click to Check Availability or Request,” (like the image above) click on the link, then follow the resulting page’s links from top to bottom. If you can’t find it online, you can submit an Interlibrary Loan request for the full text of the material. Depending on the material, it may come to you digitally in days, or a few weeks if it’s a physical book. (The benefits of doing your research early!)
• Once you’ve decided you want to capture a material, you can click on the material title to get detailed information and use some tools! On the left-hand side of the screen, you’ll see a list of tools. My most-used tools are:
  • Permalink = a stable URL that will allow you to return to the exact page. If you copy/paste the URL that’s currently in your browser, it will time you out, and you won’t be able to get back to it!
  • Cite = Grab a rough draft of a citation in whatever style you need – APA, MLA, Chicago… Note that these won’t be perfect – it’s up to you to make sure the citation is correct!
  • Email = Email yourself a stable URL and citation (and, if possible the Full Text PDF as an attachment).
  • There’s a Google Drive export tool and Listen text-to-speech tool (you can download .mp3s!), too.
• If you search a database title, you can access the database using the Recommended Databases section of the top box:

• In the same top box, you can access recommended Research Guides, which are guides designed to help you discover online and physical library resources for specific disciplines. If you’re having trouble getting started, try a Research Guide!
• You can create an EBSCO log-in, which will save your searches, send you alerts for search results, and save materials (using the Add to Folder tool). You create your own personal EBSCO log-in; it’s not tied to the UofM sign on process.

One last tip: The Chat button will link you with a University of Memphis librarian! We’re all in Memphis, we all work in the Libraries, and we’re online just waiting to help!

Have any questions? Leave a comment or ask a librarian!