Database resources for biological sciences

1. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2014
Database resources for Biological Sciences
PRESENTED BY JEN EIDELMAN
UCT LIBRARIES
2014
E-mail: jen.eidelman@uct.ac.za
Telephone: 021 650 2773
Please contact me for individual and/or group
research consultations or for any library queries.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

2. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2014 - Database resources
 Where do I find the Databases?
 Access from the library page: http://www.lib.uct.ac.za
 Search & Find
Databases
A-Z
OR
 Research Help
SUBJECT GUIDE
Biological Science
Click on the tab: Databases – finding articles in journals
http://libguides.lib.uct.ac.za/biological-science-databases
 SCOPUS / WEB OF SCIENCE / WATERS & OCEANS WORLDWIDE
 Export references to RefWorks http://libguides.lib.uct.ac.za/refworks
 Keeping up to date : Current Awareness; Alerting services
http://libguides.lib.uct.ac.za/sci-tech-uptodate
 Interlibrary Loans http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/services/interlibrary-loans/

3. WHERE TO START? - Subject Guide
On the Library Web Page:
http://www.lib.uct.ac.za
This is where you will find a link to your Subject Guide:

4. LINK TO SUBJECT GUIDES
This is your subject guide:
http://libguides.lib.uct.ac.za/biological-science

5. Databases for Biological Science
http://libguides.lib.uct.ac.za/biological-science-databases

6. Database searching
Remember to think carefully about your search
terms and use the following search operators
(Boolean operators) to limit and refine your
search:
•
•
•
AND to find records containing all terms
OR to find records containing any of the terms
NOT to exclude records containing certain words from your search

7. Databases: SCOPUS
You do not have to sign in to use these databases, but if you register you can
create your own profile, save searches and create alerts.

8. Databases: SCOPUS
• Search for articles using search terms in the search boxes
• Add more search boxes if you like
• Change the date range if you want to limit your search

9. Databases: SCOPUS
• 30 documents found
• Refine results on left of page
• Read the full text or click on SFX to see availability at UCT
• Save your search (search can be re-run in ‘Settings’)
• Set Alert

10. Databases: SCOPUS – SFX explained
The SFX screen will tell you
if the article is available in
full text or not.
It also tells you in which
database the article is
indexed.
In this case it is available
from DOAJ and from
PubMed Central.
Click on the GO button to
get the full text.

11. Databases: SCOPUS
• Set a search Alert to your mailbox

12. Databases: SCOPUS
• Find saved searches in ‘Settings’
• Manage Alerts etc.

13. Databases: SCOPUS
• Export selected article(s) to a
Bibliographic Manager e.g. RefWorks

14. Databases: SCOPUS
• Click on the
Refworks
direct export
link
• Click Export
• Exports
bibliographic
details to
RefWorks

15. Direct Import to RefWorks
The RefWorks login screen
will open if you have not
logged in previously

16. Direct Import to RefWorks

17. Databases: SCOPUS
• Find an author

18. Databases: SCOPUS
• Click on the hyperlink to view documents

19. Databases: SCOPUS
• Find more help using the
tutorials/videos offered in
the Scopus Database

20. Change drop down
menu to topic
Change timespan to limit your search
to specific years

21. Choose how to sort the
results of your search
Refine results of search
here

22. Click on FULL TEXT
and then SFX

23. SFX will tell you if the article is available in full text or not.
The full text is available from
ScienceDirect
Click on the GO button.
There is also a link here to the
library catalogue (ALEPH) if you
want to see if the print version
is available.

24. Click on Download
PDF to get the full
text.

25. Save the article to
your computer

26. Tick the box.
Export the information (bibliographic details) to RefWorks

31. Click on the ‘Search History’ tab
And then click on ‘Save History’
Give your search a name
Click ‘Save’

32. Click on ‘My Tools’ and then
‘Saved Searches and Alerts’ to
see all your saved searches

34. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
Click on ‘Sign in’ to register .

35. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
If you create a personalised account you
can save searches , create alerts and more.

36. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
You are logged in to your account – see the
‘MY’ banner on the EBSCOHost logo.
Choose ‘Advanced Search’ to start

37. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
Search tips:
• Use the OR operator to broaden your
search and to find similar concepts
• The use of truncation:
Truncation is represented by an asterisk (*).
To use truncation, enter the root of a search
term and replace the ending with an *.
EBSCOhost finds all forms of that word.
For example, type comput* to find the words
computer or computing.

38. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
You can refine your search here.
Use the slide ruler to choose the date range and
then click ‘Update’
Check the box for different types of material

39. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
There is a drop-down menu of the different search
fields. For example you can search by ‘Taxonomic
names’

40. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
Click on the HELP button for more
information about this database and to get
help with searching.

42. Databases:
Waters and Oceans Worldwide - EBSCOHOST
There are many databases hosted on the EBSCO
platform. Click on ‘Choose Database’ to see a list
of all the databases.

43. Databases:
EBSCOHOST
You may choose
to search in any of
these databases
by checking the
box and then click
OK.

44. INTERLIBRARY LOANS
http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/services/interlibrary-loans/
You can
request items
that are not
available at
UCT via UCT
Libraries
Interlibrary
Loans
Department.

45. http://libguides.lib.uct.ac.za/sci-tech-uptodate

46. Thank you!
Jen.Eidelman@uct.ac.za