The Drexel University Libraries have partnered with Google Scholar to facilitate direct access to licensed electronic journals and other e-content, linking through SFX.
What is Google Scholar?
Google Scholar uses the popular Google search engine to enable searches for scholarly materials such as peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from broad areas of research. It includes a variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web. Some Google Scholar search results include links to full-text; some offer only citations.
How does Find It@Drexel work?
The Library has sent Google information about our electronic holdings, our linking utility (SFX), and IP ranges for our campus networks. It uses a "Preferences" setting to display a Find It@Drexel link if the libraries offer access to an electronic version of an article. Click on the Find It@Drexel link to display an SFX menu showing full-text access options.
How does Google Scholar know I'm associated with Drexel?
If you're using a computer connected to the University City or Center City (Hahnemann) campuses, Google Scholar recognizes your IP address, and sets Drexel University as your default library preference. If you're off-campus, or on the College of Medicine campus, you can set Drexel as your library preference yourself. If you allow cookies on your computer, the setting will stay in place across search sessions.
How do I do that?
From here, or from the Scholar Preferences link on the Google Scholar search page, open the Preference page. In the Library Links search box type drexel; click on Find Library . Check the box next to Drexel University, then click on the Save Preferences button. Note: you can set up to two additional library preferences.
How do I find Google Scholar?
On the Libraries' "Search the Web" page, or directly at http://scholar.google.com.
Do I have to search from the Libraries' page to use Find It@Drexel?
No; as long as Drexel is set as your library preference (either by default if you're on the network, or if you have selected it yourself) all your Google Scholar searches will show Find It@Drexel links when we have access to an appropriate resource.
What should I do if I don’t see a Find It@Drexel link?
- Check our catalog – we have some resources that cannot yet be linked through the SFX system.
- Click on the title of the citation – it may lead to an open access resource.
- Use the libraries’ Interlibrary Loan service to request the article or book – PLEASE DO NOT PAY TO DOWNLOAD AN ITEM THAT THE LIBRARIES CAN OBTAIN FOR YOU!
Does Google Scholar work with any of the bibliographic management software?
At this time Google Scholar does not work with bibliographic management software such as EndNote, RefWorks, Procite, and others. A limited citation can be loaded into RefWorks via the SFX menu.
Can Google Scholar meet all my research needs?
Probably not – the libraries offer more than 300 academic databases, both broad spectrum, and highly discipline-specific for deeper, more thorough searching.
Use Google Scholar for:
- Initial search for scholarly literature
- When "just a few articles" are needed
- Unstructured "keyword" searching, especially for unique terms
- Brainstorming across many disciplines
- Leads on authors and the references they cite
- Use to identify appropriate databases -- follow SFX links from relevant citations to databases that cover your subject area.
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Use Library Databases and other resources for:
- Comprehensive searches across many years of scholarly literature when you need to cover all the bases
- Deep searching in a narrow subject literature
- Structured searching using subject headings (especially for non-specific social science terms)
- Exhaustive author searches for all works and references
- Concise encyclopedia, dictionary, handbook or physical properties definitions
- Detailed business information
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How can I learn more about searching Google Scholar?
Google Scholar offers many advanced searching features, including field-specific searching. See Scholar Help for specifics.
What can I do if I need more help?
Call or email the Libraries! Call the Reference Desks, email us, (look for the Ask a Question link on most of our web pages, and on the SFX menu), or contact your subject/reference librarian.
