Dissecting EBSCOhost

 

                                                                        By Shorba Harkhu

As a die-hard fan of the Life Sciences, I am more biased towards databases like ScienceDirect and the Web of Science. During the recent round of FYE (First Year Experience) library training sessions on EBSCOhost, it felt like we were dissecting EBSCOhost piece by piece. We learnt something new from every presenter and every presentation was better than or different from the last. I now have a new found respect for EBSCOhost and I will rightfully acknowledge this database by its proper name, which is EBSCOhost, from now on (not Ebsco in future for me). That is correct, I am now a convert!

 

I have realised that EBSCOhost is one of the most user-friendly databases. In addition to this, this database is multidisciplinary, in that it includes in its collection a plethora of databases such as Academic Search Complete (which is claimed to be the world's most comprehensive scholarly and multi-disciplinary full-text database), as well as other subject-specific databases such as ERIC and GreenFILE.

 

You can set up a personal account in EBSCOhost to save search results, search alerts and journal alerts to your MyEBSCO folder. You may also choose to create an account using your Google account credentials.  

 

Needing help on how to use any aspect of EBSCOhost, all you need do is click on the question mark next to the Create Alert button, and you will find a comprehensive help menu popping up with topics

that are hyperlinked. No need to go to the EBSCOhost landing page to add another database, just click on the Choose Databases link on the basic or advanced search page, and a list of databases will pop up for you to choose from. 

Need a quick preview of an article or ebook, click on the magnifying glass icon.

 
 As you are scrolling through your results, why not add your selections to a folder.

 
Do you require more results per page, then click on the Page Options tab at the top of the results page.

 

 EBSCOhost also has this feature where you can include an HTML or PDF attachment to an email. There’s the added bonus of choosing to have result details delivered to you in one of several referencing styles when saving, emailing or citing an article or ebook.

 

 

Finally, here comes the drum roll moment, and this is where you can bring out the popcorn. You can have the full text of an article read out to you!

 

Which database do you enjoy using or presenting? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.