You'll find information on this page about the different search and discovery tools available to you.
Reading lists
Reading lists are a great place to start any piece of research - check your list for any books, articles or websites required for your module. Some lists will detail weekly readings, and others a general list of recommended readings.
Access the reading list for each module from the Reading List tile in MyLearningSpace.
LibrarySearch
LibrarySearch is the quickest way to begin your research. It simultaneously searches our print collection alongside millions of items from multiple academic databases including e-book and ejournal collections, conference proceedings and academic content freely available on the Web.
A-Z e-resources
The A-Z lists our collection of databases, and ebook and ejournal collections. Use these to search a specific collection, to find a specific type of resource, or if you need to conduct a systematic search of literature. See Finding Resources for advice on finding specific types of resources, or Subject Guides for those collections most relevant to your subject.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is a useful resource that searches across a wide range of academic literature. It pulls results from some publishers, university research repositories and scholarly websites. It's important to remember that Scholar doesn't search everything, so should only be used as part of your search strategy.
To make it easier to connect from Scholar to our subscribed resources, change your Scholar settings. This only needs to be done on your own devices; on campus, it's all done for you.
Browser extensions
LibKey Nomad
LibKey Nomad is a browser extension that automatically provides full-text access to our subscribed content from anywhere on the web.
It checks the Library's holdings first and then checks open access alternatives to ensure you are directed to the best available version of an article. It also integrates directly with PubMed and Wikipedia allowing you to download articles directly from the search results and reference screens.
Simply download and install the extension then choose 'Abertay University Library' from the drop-down list of institutions. Once installed, you'll see the Nomad icon (green flame) display next to the address bar in your browser.
More on LibKey Nomad.
Top tip:
If you are a PubMed user, installing LibKey Nomad will greatly improve your research process - once installed, you'll see full-text article links to our subscribed content in the results list. All our full-text content will be one click away!
Lean Library
The Library currently has trial access to Lean Library - a browser extension that makes it easy to access subscribed library content without having to go to the Library website or LibrarySearch first.
Lean Library requires a very simple 'once only' installation process - just a couple of clicks and you're all set!
Just install the 'Lean Library - Library Access' extension in your browser of choice then select 'Abertay University' when prompted.
Browzine
BrowZine is a tool which allows you to easily browse, read, and keep up-to-date with current scholarly journal content. The desktop version of BrowZine is fully integrated with LibrarySearch to enhance your journal browsing experience and it is also available as a free iOS and Android app.
It is not designed for article searching so you should still go to LibrarySearch when you want to search for content.
RefWorks
RefWorks is an online reference management tool that allows you to:
- create, organise and share an online database of references, and
- format reference lists to the referencing style of your choice quickly and easily.
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