LibrarySearch

Our page on how to search will show you how to choose the best keywords for searching. Once you enter them in library search, you can refine your search to get the results you need.

Before you search

Use the autocomplete features below the search bar in LibrarySearch.

1. choose 'in Title' to get results with your search terms in the title fields only or
2. select one of the suggested searches

Once you've got the results

Use the left hand search tools to refine your search.

• You can change the sort order, though we find Best Match to be effective for most searches.
• The filters allow you to limit your results by Format, Year, Library, Audience and more. e.g. Use the Format filter to limit results to Book, eBook or Article. Set the Audience filter to ‘Juvenile’ to limit your search to children’s books.

Top tip for distance working - set the Content Type filter to ‘Full Text’ to find material you can read online.

For the next search

• You can view your chosen search filters at the top of the list.
• Don't forget to tick the checkbox for 'Retain Filters' if you want to use the same filters on your next search.

For your chosen item

• Go straight to the online version.
• You can use the Cite, Share and Save options to save or export the details of your item.
• Click on the title to view more access options and item information.
• Use the links to see available copies or to explore other editions and formats (such as print book, ebook, DVD).
  

• Checkouts: See a list of the books and items you have on loan from the library. (You can renew from here but most items will be automatically renewed when possible.)
• Requests: Review or cancel your hold requests; track your interlibrary loan requests.
• Fees: View and pay your library charges and fines online.
• Search activity
  • Search history: Sign in to automatically save your search history. Share or save searches from your history.
  • Saved searches: Save time by storing your favourite search settings to run again in future. You can save up to 100 searches. Add a Search alert to receive weekly emails when there is new content in your search.
• Borrowing history: Turn this on to start tracking your returned items.
  
• Profile: Enable your borrowing history using the toggle switch. Please don’t change contact information. We will always send library reminders to your @brookes.ac.uk email or the email on your registered library visitor account.

From the top menu under your name you can access

• Saved Items: Star and save items in your search results to temporarily add them to your Saved Items.
• Saved Lists: Move saved items into a Personal List for keeping, sharing with friends or exporting multiple citations.

1. Use the ‘Sign In’ option on the top right of LibrarySearch or go direct to my account.
2. Pick your login method and enter your login details.

Oxford Brookes students and staff

• Choose ‘Oxford Brookes University Login’.
• Use your university login credentials.
• You do not need to add @brookes.ac.uk to your username.
• Please note, Oxford Brookes University members cannot change their password from My Account. Instead please contact IT Services.

Registered Library Visitors

• Alumni members, Brookes Society Members and visitors from other universities choose ‘Registered Library Visitor’
• Use the library card number given to you when you joined
• You can set or reset your password via email when you sign in

Still got problems?

• Don’t worry, we can help
• Contact us using the details on the right hand side of this page

With advanced search you can:

• use the drop down menus to build a precise, targeted search
• add rows to include more detail

we recommend this for

• placing an interlibrary loan
• searching for a single item that you know
• creating a complex search using AND, OR, NOT

• use the Search tools to preset filters

we recommend this for

• article advanced searches to
• add a specific year
• choose the format, Article

note that you can apply these filters after you click Search, using the standard ‘Refine your Search’ options on the Search Results page

• change the ‘Searching Databases’ list

we recommend this for

• tailoring your search to a specific group of databases only
• (tick to add your chosen databases, untick to remove worldcat.org, Save Changes)
• expanding the content searched from your preferred databases
• (tick to add your chosen databases, Save Changes)
• linking out to databases that say ‘Requires authentication to view results.’
• (tick to add your chosen databases, Save Changes)
• these databases will appear as links at the top of the search results

For information about which databases are useful for your subject, use the course resources help.

A lot of the content of many of our databases is already included within the generic search set to worldcat.org. Adding further database content may slow down your searching. We would like to hear about your experiences when changing databases in Advanced Search, libraryenquiries@brookes.ac.uk.