Do you ever wish you could sit back and have articles from journals and magazines be brought to you, rather than having to go and find them by yourself? Well, this installment of Database Tips will help you realize at least part of that dream.
A new feature in EBSCOHost Databases, which include databases such as Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier, ERIC, and PsycINFO, as well as in Academic One File, will deliver articles based on the search criteria you choose. All you have to do is search for articles in one of those databases, and the database will give you a link that you can use to subscribe to the search.
How it works is this: the database creates an RSS feed based on the search criteria that you use to find articles. You might know about RSS feeds if you are a blog reader or writer. In the simplest of terms, an RSS feed takes new content from a blog, or any website that is regularly updated and has a feed, and directs it somewhere else, like a feed reader, blog aggregator, or favorites bar in a browser, making it easy for you to keep track of your favorite blogs, newspapers, websites, and now, article searches!
So, the next time you set up a successful search in an EBSCOHost database or Academic One File, look for a link at the top of your list of results. In EBSCO databases, the link will say Create alert for this search, and in Academic One File it will say Create a Search Alert. In both cases, the links will appear next to the orange RSS feed icon, which you can see to the above right. After clicking either link, you will get the URL for the feed, which you can use to subscribe to the search.
Still confused? RSS, despite being called "real simple syndication," tends to be a subject that makes even the most tech savvy people scratch their heads and mutter. Well, mutter no more: we've created a primer on blogs and feeds--what they are, and how you can use them. You can read them here:
As always, if you have questions or need further assistance, contact us!
Comments