Central Search is CMU's general-use database that compiles results from the library catalog and many of the subject-specific databases that Smiley Memorial Library subscribes to. Central Search has an extensive collection of items from every academic discipline and can be used to find both scholarly and popular sources. Books, eBooks, newspapers, magazines, trade journals, online resources, academic peer-reviewed journals, and much more can be found through Central Search.
General use databases, such as Central Search or Academic Search Complete, include items of many different formats from a variety of different academic disciplines. You can find a peer-reviewed article in a Nursing journal alongside a newspaper article about the minimum wage.
Subject-specific databases, in contrast, present literature/resources for a specific field or area of study. CINAHL Ultimate, for example, is a nursing and allied health literature. CINAHL Ultimate would be a helpful resource for health-related research, but would not be helpful for a business student completing research for a class. This student could instead use another subject-specific database, such as Business Source Elite.
A full list of databases can be found on the Library website on the Databases tab. Don't hesitate to contact a librarian if you have any questions regarding what database you should use for your research.
Credo is a reference database that compiles results from encyclopedias, dictionaries, manuals, and other reference materials. Credo is best used as a source for background information, meaning that it is a great resource to start with if you want to learn more about an unfamiliar topic. Credo is a tool similar to online resources such as Wikipedia. Unlike Wikipedia, however, Credo's entries are written by scholars and experts, making it a trustworthy source for academic research.
Central Search is a fantastic place to start your research since it offers results from several databases in one user interface! Central Search is interdisciplinary in scope, a characteristic that can be helpful in the early stages of research.
If you want to learn more about a topic through background research, then a reference database such as Credo might be the best place to start. Don't hesitate to contact a librarian if you have any questions regarding what database you should use for your research.
A library catalog allows you to search for resources owned by the library, such as print books, eBooks, DVDs, bound periodicals, and etc. Library catalogs will include publication information, along with a link or a call number that can be used to locate the item. Library catalogs are the best places to search when trying to find a book or physical resource.
Library databases index digital resources the library has subscribed to. Full-text digital access will be offered for many, but not all, of the resources found in a library database. Those not available in full text can be requested through interlibrary loan.
Check out the Smiley Memorial Library Introduction to Research Skills guide's Form a Search Strategy page for tips and tricks on how to search library databases. Don't hesitate to contact a librarian if you have any questions!
Contact the Library! A librarian would be happy to help! If needed, you can schedule a research consultation with a librarian for more detailed help on crafting database searches and developing a research strategy.
There are several tools and links embedded in Central Search to help you find full text articles and books. Please see the video below for more information.
660-248-6271
library@centralmethodist.edu