Changes to the Advanced Search in Ovid

We are making changes to the default search settings in our Ovid databases, due to user feedback. This will affect searches carried out in Ovid Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Maternity & Infant Care and Global Health databases.

When entering search terms in the advanced search field in Ovid, you’ll have previously been prompted to search the database index for Subject Headings. We’ve now turned this feature off, so that Ovid will search for your terms as keyword(s) by default.

The new, simplified interface will offer more flexibility. By allowing you to simultaneously search across multiple fields, you will retrieve more results.  You will also be able to transfer your search from one Ovid database to another more easily.

The new settings also mean that you will no longer need to know the correct Subject Heading before starting your search.  You will, of course, still be able to use subject headings – just make sure the ‘Map Term to Subject Heading’ box is ticked before you click the Search button. Remember, a robust search strategy will usually use a mixture of keyword and subject heading searches.

Screenshot of Ovid’s Medline interface with the Map Term to Subject Heading box unticked

We’re also changing the way your results are displayed, by automatically showing you the article abstract as you scroll through your results. This will allow you to see at a glance whether the results will be of use to you.

We hope these changes will help users navigate the Ovid search tool more effectively. If you’d like to feedback on these changes, or would like to arrange training on using Ovid, please email us at liaison@sgul.ac.uk

Library <3 Library StART

New for 2016 the Library is launching a series of monthly promotions – Library Loves. Featuring different resources and events, Library Loves will support your learning, teaching, research and practice by helping you get the most out of the Library and our resources, and we hope at the times when most needed. So with out further ado, it’s the start of the year, it’s the start of Library Loves and we are looking at Library StART…

With deadlines fast approaching in January, some of these questions may be looming large:

How do I answer my essay question – what information do I need to do it?
How do I find and get that information?
Can I reference Wikipedia? How do I know I’ve got ‘the good stuff’?
What is Harvard Style, how can I make sure I’m getting it right?

Library StART (St George’s Assignment Research Toolkit) has been designed to help you navigate all these questions and more, with specific reference to how you can use resources available via the Library here at St George’s to support your assignments.

You can either work through the whole tutorial for a complete overview of how to find good quality information to support you assignment, or dip in to the section where you are stuck – the main sections are:

1. Identify – do you need background information or something more specific, what sort of resource can you use to find it
2. Find – step by step help and video guides on how to find and access resources via St George’s Library from books to journal articles using Hunter.
3. Evaluate – how to assess the quality of the resource you have found, and judge whether they are suitable for use in your assignment
4. Reference – how to acknowledge information sources in your assignments, and avoid plagiarism

Library StART is freely available online, and if you can’t find what you are looking for check the Need more help?  section.

Library StART is device responsive so will also work well on your mobile or tablet – watch our YouTube video to see how it works

 

Find out more

We’re running a Library StART pop-up in the Social Learning Space outside the Library on Wednesday 20th January 12-2pm

Cupcakes provided!