Why Use Library Search?

WHY USE LIBRARY SEARCH 

  • Access full text quickly and easily to support your learning
  • Find what you need from the Library in one place - books, ebooks, journals, ejournals, newspapers and more
  • Save time as the simple interface lets you focus on finding and using resources
  • Refine your search by limiting your results to a specific source type such as peer reviewed journal articles
  • Use the Browse the Shelf feature to find additional, relevant print books on a specific topic
  • Create lists of sources to refer back to or share with others
  • Save your searches

Please note: To get the most out of Library Search and to ensure that you can access content, sign in using your Manchester Metropolitan University ID and password by clicking on the Sign In link in the top right hand corner of the page. If using a mobile device, you will be prompted to sign in when carrying out a search.

  • Video Transcript

    Use Library Search to access books, ebooks, journal articles and more.

    To get started, just type your keywords into the search box on the homepage of the library website and click search. In this example, I’m looking for information on plagiarism in Higher Education. 

    To experience the full functionality of Library Search, It is advisable to sign in. Just click on the sign in link in the top right hand corner of the page. Your search results will be listed. Underneath each result you can see what source type it is, for example an ebook or a downloadable journal article. Apply a format filter to limit your search results to a specific source type. In this example, I am searching for print books available to borrow from the library. I am interested in the second result.  Some print books may also be available as an ebook which is the case for the second result.

    To access the ebook, click on the Access Online link. I want to borrow the print version of this book from the library. From this page you can see whether the book is available and the precise location of the book in the library. Make a note of the shelf number which you will need to locate the book on the shelf. To see more information about the book, click on the title. On this page you can find a summary of the book and any reading lists that the book is on will be listed. You can also reserve a copy of the book if there are no available copies in the library. 

    To limit your search results to ebooks only, tick the ebook filter. To access a specific ebook, click on the View ebook button.  For some ebooks you may see Access online rather than View ebook. This means that the ebook is available via more than one platform. Click on Access Online and then click on one of the view ebook links. In this example, I have applied the article filter. When you do this, your results will include some journal articles however they will also include other sources such as newspaper articles as is the case for the second result.  

    To search for peer-reviewed journal articles only you will need to apply a second filter. Scroll down the page and tick the peer reviewed filter underneath the content type heading. You will then see that all of the results listed are articles from peer reviewed journals. You may also want to apply a year range filter to your results. You can either select one of the pre-defined ranges underneath the publication year heading or, specify your own year range by entering the required dates in the boxes provided. I have selected journal articles published in the last 5 years.  

    Similarly to ebooks, results that display an access online link are available in full text via more than one platform. Results that display a view full text link will redirect you immediately to the full text of the article. Once you are happy with your results you have several options in the top right hand corner of each result. Click on the share button to email yourself the details of a particular source.  Click on the Cite button to export the reference to EndNote. If you want to come back to a useful item later, you can save it to a  folder, just click on the save icon. When you save an item the link will change to saved  and you can see how many items are in your saved items folder in the top right hand corner of the screen. Click on the folder to view your saved items and create a permanent list.  Please be aware that if you have not signed in, this list of saved items is only temporary and they will disappear after a period of inactivity or, after closing Library Search. Click on the sign in link to create a permanent list of saved items. 

    Once you are signed in, Click on the create list link to create a permanent list of saved items. For more help and information please email the library or visit the library website. 

MORE INFORMATION ON

FAQs

Below are some FAQS about Library Search, please contact the library if you have further questions.

  • Do I need to login to use Library Search?

    You can search without logging in.  However, if you want to save your search or result list you will need to be logged in to Library Search.  Also, if you want to access any full text articles, ebooks or other online resources, you will need to sign in with your MMU details. 

    To sign in, click on the Sign In located at the top right hand corner of the page.

    Next you will need to choose the relevant option.   You will then need to enter your MMU login details. 

  • Can I find Open Access content in Library Search?

    Yes, Open Access content, such as books and journal articles, can be found in Library Search.

    To find Open Access material in Library Search, run a search.

    Then go to Content Type and select Open Access. 

    For items available online you may need to click View full text or Access Online.  This will give a list of available platforms for the electronic version.

    If you are using Library Search to look for Open Access material and do not have a Manchester Metropolitan University username and password, you will need to select a link which clearly mentions open access content i.e. Directory of Open Access Books/Journals in order to view the full text.

    If you want to expand your search even further, then go to the following search option – Held by Library and choose Libraries Worldwide

    This will now include further open access material from other library collections.

  • How do I find a specific print book or eBook?

    Books and ebooks are listed on Library Search

    • Enter the title/part of the title into the search box. Add the author surname for a more specific search.
    • To limit your results to just books.  Under Format select Book.  If you only want ebooks, then just select ebook.
  • How do I find a specific journal article?

    Journal articles available electronically

    Use Library Search to locate a specific journal article available electronically

    • Enter the article title into the search box
    • If available, the article will appear near the top of the results list
    • Check for View text online under the title/details and follow the link
    • You will be prompted to log in with your Manchester Metropolitan username and password

    If you wish to browse a particular ejournal title, use the Journals A-Z search box to see if we have online access to a particular journal title.


    Journal articles available in print only

    For journal articles available in print journals only, locate the journal issue from the journal shelves on the 2nd floor of All Saints Library (East Wing).

    You will need to have the journal title, volume number and issue number to find the specific print journal article.

    If you can’t find the article that you’re looking for, or it is not available in full text at Manchester Metropolitan Library, you might be able to obtain a copy via our Request It! service

  • How do I find a peer-reviewed journal article?

    Enter your search terms into the Library Search box and run your search.

    Choose Article located under Format.

    Next select Peer Reviewed, located under Content Type

    Peer reviewed journal articles will now be displayed. 

  • How do I find a specific journal title in Library Search?

    You can search for journals using their title or ISSN. 

    Enter the title of the journal into Library Search and run the search.

    Now under Format, select Journal, Magazine

    This will then show if the journal is available in print and/or electronic form.

  • How do I search within a particular journal?

    You will need to access the Advanced Search feature of Library Search

    Under Search Index click on the drop down arrow and select Journal Source, Source Phrase

    Now enter the full name of the journal in the search terms box.

    Under the next search index box either leave the option as Title – to look for the words in the article title or change to Keyword to widen the search across all the details of the article.

    Enter your search terms and click Search

    Results just from that journal will be shown

  • My search contains an acronym, how should I type this in to Library Search?

    The use of acronyms varies depending on which form different writers use.

    Try searching using the abbreviated and unabbreviated form e.g. searching for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator as well as SENCO to get the widest set of results.

  • How do I search the Special Collections in Library Search?

    Run a search in Library Search.  You can then limit results to Special Collections by selecting Special Collections Museum, located under Held by Library.

    This will give results from collections such as Book Design, Artists’ Books and Children’s Books.  However, Special Collections holds many more items in their collections and archives. Please see the Special Collections Museum website for further details.

Speed up your search

Speed up your search

There are tools available to help you with your online search, including LibKey Nomad. This is a browser extension you can download to get instant links to full-text journal articles. Once downloaded, you can use your browser as normal to search for online journal articles. LibKey Nomad will then display a button to access the text if it’s an article we subscribe to or is available on Open Access.

To start using this online tool, download the extension and select Manchester Metropolitan University from the dropdown list.