How do I search multiple databases at once? Last Updated: 05.Aug.2025 Views: 344
How do I search multiple databases at once?
Last Updated: 05.Aug.2025 Views: 344
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 all of the databases covered by our current subscriptions will be pre-selected for you. These include CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, Education Research Complete and SocIndex.
- If you wish to change the selection, e.g. to only use the various health/medical or art databases, click on the 'All databases' link that appears above the search box:
- This will display the list of all the currently available databases - untick the 'Select all' box, tick the individual databases you want to use, then press 'Select' to confirm:
- 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 all of the databases in our current collection, 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.
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