When conducting literature searches, students are often tasked with using several databases to make sure they are accessing the full range of available literature. If the databases are provided by the same company, you may be able to search them simultaneously but in other cases you will need to search individual databases separately.
If you need a general tool to search across the widest range of subscribed material, use LibrarySearch the library catalogue. LibrarySearch links into many of our subject databases anyway and is great for gaining a quick impression of how much academic literature may be out there. However, LibrarySearch lacks some of the more specialist filters that the databases offer, and there are some resources it does not connect with so you shouldn't rely on it in isolation.
Two of our main database suppliers are Ebsco and ProQuest, and each offers the opportunity to search across their full package of databases. Here's how...
- Ebsco Host Databases - go via the https://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/resources/databases-a-z/databases/ebsco-host-databases.php link and then select all of the Ebsco databases you wish to include in your search when prompted. If you wish to change your selection, a 'Choose Databases' link appears above the main search box which opens a list as shown in the image. Databases covered by Ebsco include CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, Education Research Complete and SocIndex.
- ProQuest Databases - go via the https://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/resources/databases-a-z/databases/proquest-databases.php link and you should be presented with a search box that covers 12 databases, including Literature Online, Nursing & Allied Health Source, European Newsstream (national, international and local newspaper articles) and ABI/Inform Global (Business Journals). The 'Change Databases' link above the search box allows you to pick which ones to search.
