How do I find an article for my research topic in the library Discovery search?

There are multiple ways to find articles using the NSU Libraries website; two are covered in this FAQ. For personalized assistance with research using the library's Discovery system and/or databases, contact one of our Subject Area Librarians. We are always happy to help!

Note: Search works best when you are signed in to the library website using your NSU credentials. To sign in, select My Library Account on the NSU Libraries homepage, or "Sign in" on any other NSU Libraries webpage.

Basic Search:

1. Basic search can be accessed via the NSU Libraries homepage. To begin your search, select the "Articles" tab above the search bar near the center of the page. 
2. Type your keywords/search terms into the search bar and press Enter/Return or select the icon of the magnifying glass. Alternately, if you know the title of the article you want, type it into the search bar and select "Title" from the dropdown menu beneath the search bar.
3. The results page has multiple options in the left column for narrowing/filtering your search results. Commonly selected filters are Held by Library (location of the item), Format, and Publication Year. Note that the default location is Northeastern State University; to expand the results to include articles that can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan, select "Libraries Worldwide."
4. Each record listed in the search results provides the title, author(s), publication name and date, peer review status, and a summary of the article. The title of the article links to the detailed record containing additional information, including subject terms and DOI. You can cite, share, and save the article from either page using the rectangular white buttons on top right of the record.
5. You will be given one of two options for accessing each article: "View Full Text" or "Request through Interlibrary Loan."
   1. "View Full Text" allows for immediate access and download of the article. Select this option to redirect to the full article; this will open in a new window. Most databases will have the option to download the article in PDF format near the top of the article.
   2. "Request through Interlibrary Loan" is a free service for NSU students and faculty in which items not held in NSU Libraries' collection can be borrowed from other libraries. You must be signed in to use the service. Selecting the "Request through Interlibrary Loan" option from any results page will autofill the request form with the necessary information, you only need to complete the "About my request" section before submitting. Most article requests are delivered to your library account within 72 hours.

Advanced Search:

1. Advanced Search can be accessed via the NSU Libraries homepage by selecting the Advanced Search option beneath the search bar near the center of the page. Advanced Search allows you to be more specific in your search by providing options to use Boolean Operators, filtering results by type or publication status, and choosing in which databases to search, among others. 
2. To begin your search, follow these steps:
   1. Type your keywords/search terms into the search bar(s).
   2. Select "Article" under "Article, chapter" in the "Format" dropdown menu beneath the "Filter by" heading.
   3. Select additional filter options, as desired. Note that search works best when you select fewer filters on the initial search, and add them later as you learn what is available. For additional help with this topic, contact your subject librarian.
   4. Select "Search."
3. The results page is the same as for the Basic Search; see steps 3-5 under "Basic Search" above for more information.