Education: Getting Started With Library Research
What Is Discovery Search?
Discovery Search is the search box that you see on the Libraries' website.
What's in Discovery Search?
Searching with Discovery lets you search the physical materials held at the UMass Amherst Libraries, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College, as well as some of the 600+ databases that the Libraries subscribe to for research.
Discovery Search is good for:
- Looking to see if the Libraries have a specific print material or a specific ebook.
- Being starting place to find materials, especially if you're trying to narrow down a topic.
- Discovery Search This link opens in a new windowFind articles across a large number of library resources with just one search! Begin your generalized research here.
How To Search With Discovery Search
Quick Search
In the search bar on the Libraries home page (as shown above), type in your keywords and hit Search.
Advanced Search
Using Advanced Search can help you find things more effectively than a quick search.
Underneath the search bar on the Libraries home page (as shown above), there's a link for Advanced Search. Click on that link.
To get the most out of Advanced Search, use a separate line for each concept of your search and change the default field to a more specific field.
For example, if I was searching for what was available for using graphic novels for teaching, I would put graphic novels as keywords on the first search line and keep the field as the default and put teaching on the second search line and change the field to SU Subject Terms. This will tell the search interface that I'd like all items that have a subject of teaching AND have graphic novels in any other field.
Once you click Search, you'll go to the Results screen. In the Results screen, use the filters on the left side of the screen to look at "slices" of the results, which is especially helpful if you have hundreds or thousands of results.
The most useful filters to use are:
| Filter | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | Use this slider to narrow down to a set of years, such as the last ten years. |
| Format | Click on Show More to see all the formats available, such as Books, eBooks, Academic Journals and more. |
| Subject | The first five subjects shown are the ones with the most results. Click on Show More to see all subjects. In the Subject Box, click on Name to sort the list alphabetically. It makes it easier to scroll through a lot of subjects! You can use the subjects to either view slices of the results by subject or you might use the subject to do a new search using a single subject or a combination of subjects and/or keywords. |
Search Tips
Apostrophes (") are your friends!
For terms that have more than one word, use apostrophes. For example, if you were searching for the direct instruction method, use "direct instruction" in the field. That will search specifically for direct instruction. If you don't use the apostrophes, you will get results that include materials where direct is in the first line of the text and instruction is in the 52nd line of the text.
Asterisk (*) is another friend!
Use the asterisk to search for multiple variations of a word. For example, using comic* will return results with both comics and comic books.
Default search fields can amp up your search!
Change the default search fields. Most helpful are:
| Field Name | What It Does |
|---|---|
| AU Author | Use this field when you know the name of the author. Try using just the last name and if that doesn't work, both first and last names. |
| TI Title | Use this field when you know the title of the item. |
| SU Subject Terms | This is a powerful field and helps to narrow down results to specific subjects. It's sometimes helpful to do some searches using keywords with the Search field to see if you can find the subject term that the database is using to describe your topic. |
Try different keywords and synonyms
When you can't find relevant items in your search, brainstorm different keywords to describe your topic. Items in our databases have subject headings and you may be using a different term than one that collects your topic. For instance, you might be searching how to empower students and you're using empowerment as a keyword, but it turns out that the database uses the word motivation for that concept.
Finding a Specific Item
When looking for a specific item like a book, use the default fields of Author and Title and filter to the specific format. Otherwise, you might get book reviews or articles about it. If you know the ISBN for the item, you can also use the ISBN field to search for the item.
Subject Terms are so helpful!
When you find an item that fits your research, click on it and look at the subject terms. Use subject terms that look relevant in your next search.
Search is an iterative process ... ... ...
It may take multiple times to find items on your topic. This is absolutely normal!
Keep track of your search!
Track how you're searching and what combinations of keywords, subject terms and fields that you've used along with how many results with each search. This is especially helpful if you need to go back to a search.
Copying URLs for items you want to share
If you find an item and you want to share it with yourself or someone else, DO NOT share the URL you see in the browser bar. That URL is vaild only for your current session. The moment you close the browser, the URL will no longer work. Instead, click on the item and then click on Permalink in the list on the right side. Copy that link and share it with everyone!
Getting Physical Materials
- Check the Status and when applicable, the Due Date field.
Example:
| Status Field Says | What's Available To Me? |
|---|---|
| Available |
Come to the library if the Location is UMass OR use the Place Request link if the Location is Amherst (AC), Hampshire (HC), Mount Holyoke (MH) or Smith (SC) OR request home delivery (see below for instructions). If the item has a Location of UMass and a Status of Available, you can use the Place Request link to have the item held for you at the entry level information desk. You will need to wait until you receive an email that the item is ready before trying to pick it up. |
| Requested | Request a hold on the item by using the Place Request link. The patron who has the book will be notified that it has been recalled and needs to be returned to the Libraries. You will receive an email when the item is ready to be picked up. |
| Checked Out and there's a date in the Due Date field |
Request a hold on the item by using the Place Request link. The patron who has the book will be notified that it has been recalled and needs to be returned to the Libraries. You will receive an email when the item is ready to be picked up. If you need the item sooner, please submit a request via Interlibrary Loan. |
| Reserves... |
Items on reserves are available only for a short amount of time. Make sure to look at the Location field to see which library the item is located. You can get Reserves items by asking for them at the Learning Commons Desk on the Lower Level of the Du Bois Library and at the desks on the main floor for both the Science & Engineering Library and Wadsworth Library. If you want an item on reserve for a longer amount of time, submit a request via Interlibrary Loan. If it is a textbook, please do not submit via Interlibrary Loan. Instead, please email our Reserves department at reserves@umass.libanswers.com. |
| Missing or something else that is not Available or Reserves or Requested | Submit a request via Interlibrary Loan. |
Delivery to Your Home Address
If you'd like to have items mailed to you, please use the Library Express service. Use the link below to see the instructions for how to have interlibrary loan items mailed to you. This includes both UMass and other libraries, including Five College libraries and interlibrary loan materials (as long as the owning library has not restricted it to use within the library only).
The Libraries will mail books to any off campus address within the United States, including those within the Pioneer Valley.
- Library. Express (Home Delivery for ILL Materials)Instructions for how to get Interlibrary Loan (ILL) materials sent to your home address.
Getting Access to Electronic Materials
If we have the book available electronically, the record will have UMass: Link to resource above the Location field.
Example:
Once you have clicked on the link, you may be prompted for your NetID and password. We purchase ebooks from many vendors and the interfaces work differently.
Please note that if the Status field is Internet and the UMass: Link to resource is not showing, it means that we do not have electronic access to the book.
There are ebooks in the catalog that have a Location of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke or Smith. Those ebooks are only available remotely to the faculty, staff, and students of Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke or Smith. This is due to vendor licensing restrictions. You can go to those libraries and use one of their public terminals to access the ebook.
If we do not have an electronic version of the book, please submit an interlibrary loan request for the book using the link below and indicate if you'd like an electronic or print version of the book.
- Log into UMass Interlibrary LoanUse your NetID and password to log in. First-time users will be prompted to fill out a short form.
