Where to search
Knowing where to search is just as important as knowing how to search. The following video will help you to understand why and when to use different search tools.
Video Length: 2 minutes 14 seconds
- Knowing where to search is just as important as knowing how to search.
- Not all search tools will give you access to the same information.
- Understanding why and when to use different search tools will save you time.
- The Library Collection:
- is a good place to search for scholarly material.
- provides free access to a variety of resources types across a range of subject areas.
- Databases:
- help focus your search and have more advanced searching options.
- Google Scholar:
- provides access to a wide range of resources, but not all of it is scholarly.
- use the Google Scholar link from the Library website for best access to full-text references.
- Some types of specific information are best found using a search engine or specific website.
- All resources need to be evaluated before using them.
Library collection
The Library Collection is a good place to start your search for scholarly material. You can use it to find eBooks, journal articles, reports, videos and more.
Using the "Refine my results" menu, you can refine your search to find exactly what you need.
Want to Know More?
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Browse UniSA’s subscribed journals and easily access PDFs
BrowZine
BrowZine™ allows you to easily access and browse journals available online via UniSA. Access via the Library homepage and select Journals beneath the search bar.
LibKey Nomad
LibKey Nomad™ is a browser extension that makes it easy to access journal articles anywhere on the internet.
For instructions on how to install LibKey Nomad, visit Library News.
My Bookshelf is the place where you can organise your favourite journals and stay up to date in your field. You may rename and organise your "shelves" and "bookcases" however you like! This configuration will automatically sync to your other devices when you use the same login.
See the video below to learn how to add a journal to My Bookshelf (11 mins)
- What is the BrowZine Account?
The BrowZine Account is the system used to provide personalization features throughout the BrowZine ecosystem. Having a BrowZine Account ;is required for using My Bookshelf on all devices as it is used to tie together your different devices so you only need to configure My Bookshelf on one device and the configuration will sync seamlessly between them.
- What email can I use to create my BrowZine Account? Does it matter?
In most cases, you can use any email you would like! For libraries using the BrowZine Pairing Service, you may be restricted to using only your university/company email address. BrowZine will alert you to this fact if you try to use another email at one of these accounts automatically.
- Do I have to have an account? Can I use BrowZine at all without one?
No, you do not have to have an account to use BrowZine. You can still browse the shelves, look up titles, read tables of contents, and download articles. However, in order to use the personalization feature of My Bookshelf and My Articles, a BrowZine account is required so that we can synchronize and back-up your data across all devices and ensure that we keep your device accurately updated.
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What if you can't find a journal in BrowZine?
- You can try searching the name of the journal in the Library collection, e.g. Journal of advanced nursing.
- For table of contents of the journal, search the web by journal title. Most publishers offer email alerts for the table of contents of the latest issue's.
- Contact Interlibrary Loans and Document Delivery Service (Eligibility applied).
- Remember there maybe free Open Access versions of journal articles - use the Unpaywall Chrome/Firefox extension to find them (about Unpaywall)
Key databases
Databases are online collections of resources including articles, papers, book chapters and reports. Databases have advanced search options, helping to focus your search and find more relevant, scholarly references quickly. Below is a list of key databases for your discipline.
- Bloomsbury Popular MusicProvides unrivalled scholarly coverage of modern popular music worldwide, covering the mid-20th century to the present day.
- JSTOR Search and view historical and current content of core scholarly journals and books in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Browsing by subject is available.
- Oxford Music Online An enhanced electronic version of the print Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource on all aspects of music.
Want to Know More?
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Read: How to Save Time Searching Databases (PDF) |
Google Scholar
Google Scholar searches only within academic or scholarly sites, rather than the whole internet. You will be able to link directly to articles that the library has access to by clicking on the Full-text at UniSA link. Search in Google Scholar directly from the Library homepage for best access to full-text references.
Want to Know More?
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Visit the library's Searching for your Literature Review Guide for videos and tips. |
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Find more information
 Find news media |
The Library's News Media Guide provides help searching and evaluating a wide range of Australian and International news media including newspapers, television, radio and media releases. Start your search with:
 Find statistics |
A huge range of statistical resources can be found via the Library collection and databases.
- ABS Quick Stats
- OECD data
- Statista
- UN National Statistical Offices
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- More statistics databases...
OR when searching databases or the library collection for statistics, simply add the word 'statistics' into your search.
 Find videos |
The Library provides access to a wide range of video content through a number of key video databases, including:
- Alexander Street: Academic video online
- EduTV
- Kanopy
- SAGE video: Media, communication & cultural studies
OR when searching the library collection, use the Refine my results menu to refine the Resource Type to Audio Visual
 Find music scores |
If you're looking for music scores/sheet music in the library collection, type the title of the piece of music you're looking for into the search box and click search. Then refine your search using the resource type of 'score' on the left side of the page.
e.g. "Bran Nue Dae"
If you want to search generally for music but don't know the title or if you would like to browse, type 'music' into the search box and again refine to 'score' giving you over 31,000 choices.
These sites provide free score downloads, but take care as some items may still be in copyright.
Purchasing sheet music
Most of the following are commercial sites:
 Find scripts and screenplays |
If you'd like to search for screenplays in the library collection type the title, followed by the word screenplay, into the search box.
eg. Proof screenplay
If you want to search generally for plays where you don't know the title or would like to browse, type 'screenplay' into the search box and refine by book format down the left side of the page.
These sites offer screenplays for download:
 Find images |
Check out the Images page of our Digital Media guide for information on finding and using images in your assignments.
 Find open media |
Check out our Open Educational Resources guide for information on finding and using openly licensed images, video, text, software and more in your assignments.
Select appropriate references
While you're finding references, you need to critically think about whether they are appropriate to use in your assignment. You may be asked to use Scholarly or Peer Reviewed material to support your arguments.
You should evaluate all resources before including them in your assignment – even if you found them through the Library collection or databases.
Want to Know More?
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Read: How to find scholarly sources (pdf) |
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Read: Critically analysing a website (pdf) |
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Read: Critical reading strategies (pdf) |
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