Need Help with a Search?
Search Guides
What is a QuickSearch or a pre-configured metasearch?
TLU's pre-configured metasearches--called QuickSearches--have been tested to be sure (1) they search the full-text journals for a particular subject and (2) they only include databases that can retrieve relevant hits for a particular subject.
What is a metasearch?
A metasearch is known by many names: federated, broad, parallel, cross, single, or simultaneous search, to name a few. In brief, it allows you to search multiple databases from different vendors. For example, TLU's metasearch allows you, simultaneously, to search databases from EBSCO, ProQuest, and ThomsonGale. An example of a simultaneous search confined to one vendor is EBSCO's Academic Search Complete, which searches almost all the EBSCO databases to which TLU has access. To qualify as a true federated search, the search must search databases from different vendors.
What will a metasearch do for me?
It saves time locating and searching for information. It gives a novice user a quick overview of a subject and provides one search interface for multiple databases. It searches multiple sources at once and gives the user an idea of which databases to use. It links to full-text sources from multiple databases that have been selected by faculty as pertinent to the academic programs at TLU. It presents a list of hits uniformly, regardless of the database. It allows users to sort hits by journal title or database which lets users drill down to the most pertinent hits. It also allows users to sort hits by date, title of article, or author. It lets users link directly to the database with the most pertinent hits and use that database's search boxes.
What are the limitations of a metasearch?
It will not replace advanced search features specific to an individual database. It does not use specialized subject terms created by a database for in-depth or "power" searching. For comprehensive, specialized, or in-depth research, you need to use the comprehensive database for your particular field. Examples include MathSciNet (for math) and PsycINFO (for psychology). Not all databases can be included in a metasearch--it depends (1) on the vendor who controls the database and (2) on how the database has been constructed. Examples of databases that can NOT be metasearched are ProQuest's eLibrary, HeritageQuest Online, or Texas Digital Sanborn Maps and Thomson Gale's InfoTrac Custom Newspapers.
What's the difference between a metasearch and a Google search?
TLU's metasearch returns "relevant" results from databases selected by faculty as being pertinent to the academic programs at TLU. A metasearch is slower than a Google search because each database must authenticate that the search is coming from an authorized TLU user.
Does a metasearch search the "open" Internet, like Google does?
No. TLU's metasearch only searches databases on the "open" Internet when the databases are known to provide free scholarly journal articles. Examples of full-text databases from the "open" Internet are PubMed Central and Directory of Open Access Journals.
Why can't I search ALL the library databases at once?
You can only simultaneously search databases (including the library catalog) if the database adheres to one of three protocols: z39.50, XML, or HTML. If the database link is preceded with a checkbox, it can be included in a metasearch. If no checkbox appears, the database can only be searched by clicking the database link (the name of the database) and using the database's "native" interface.
Can I search databases by subject?
Yes. There are a couple of ways to do this. We recommend that you Try a QuickSearch first because it has already been configured to retrieve full-text material for a subject. If you want to see all databases for your subject, then from your Quick Search screen, choose "more search options." Or, if you've tried the Quick Search, you can Search Databases by Subject and configure your own metasearch.
Can I search databases by title?
Yes. If you know the names of databases you want to search, you can Search Databases by Title.
Can I search the databases from off-campus?
Yes. Off-campus searching of the databases is limited to TLU students, faculty, and staff, who will be prompted for their ezproxy login (LAST name only and TLU ID).