EBSCO database guide

Signed into Academic Search Premier or Business Source Premier recently? EBSCOhost has updated its database search interface. It looks a lot different than it did earlier this week: Streamlined searching, cool graphics, and new features abound! An easy way to learn how to use these new features is to read over TC Library's EBSCOhost database guide, located here. New features include, but are not limited to:

• SmartText Searching
• Ready made reference citations in many citation styles, including APA and AMA
• Graphics searching
• RSS and email alerts for searches
• Mouseover abstract/citation pop-ups

Again, please check out our new EBSCOhost database search guide for help navigating the new search interface and features from EBSCO.

New EBSCO Databases Interface

Be aware Saint Mary's students: one of our most popular database providers is changing its user search interface! Soon when you sign in to use an EBSCOhost database, you will see a very different, and very "Google-ized" page design. If you'd like to read about the changes and see screenshots of the new interface, please visit one of the following links

1. EBSCOhost 2.0 Welcome and Information page
2. Interface Enhancements Overview (PPT)

This change will affect the following databases:

1. Academic Search Premier
2. Business Source Premier
3. Regional Business News
4. MasterFILE Premier
5. EBSCO MegaFILE
6. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
7. Catholic Periodical and Literature Index
8. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
9. New Testament Abstracts
10. Old Testament Abstracts
11. Literary Reference Center
12. Mental Measurements Yearbook
13. Tests in Print
14. MLA International Bibliography
15. MLA Directory of Periodicals
16. America: History & Life
17. Historical Abstracts
18. Family & Society Studies Worldwide (Trial)

Soon we will have an updated database guide for the new EBSCOhost database layout. We'll keep you posted here on the TCLibrary blog. If you have any questions about using the database once its interface changes, please don't hesitate to contact a SMU Librarian.

Library Tip: RSS, wikis & more!

Confused by 21st Century technology vocabulary, like wiki, blogs, or rss feed? There is an excellent free educational web site to bring you up to speed on new technology, called Common Craft. Common Craft offers short, informative and entertaining videos that, to quote from their web site, focus on “making complex ideas easy to understand. We use a whiteboard-and-paper format we call Paperworks that is designed to cut out the noise and stick to what matters.” Each video only lasts a few minutes, but you’ll walk (or click?) away with a greater understanding of the technology swirling around you.

For a sample of how excellent this resource is, follow this link to watch “Wikis in Plain English” on Common Craft’s web site: http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english

To view the complete list of free educational videos, visit: http://www.commoncraft.com/shows/video