Find it! Quickguide

Find it! allows you to search multiple databases, simultaneously, in a wide range of subject areas.  You can use Find it! to find articles, images, items in the library catalog, and databases.

Please note:

• Some databases cannot be searched using the Find it! interface because they require specialized software, allow only a limited number of users at one time, or have a search interface that is incompatible with Find it!.  These databases are listed in Find it! and identified in results lists as “direct access only.”  You may connect to these databases via the links in Find it! (by searching for databases, in the A-Z list of databases, or in the subject area lists). 
• The databases available in Find it! represent only a fraction of the online resources available at Cornell. To access all materials available from Cornell University Library, including other reference resources, search the Library Catalog.
• Many databases have additional tools that are not available when using Find it!.  For more precise searching, and to take full advantage of the tools offered in individual databases, search individual databases directly.

For more information about finding articles on a topic, see Finding Specific Types of Materials: Articles or Ask a Librarian.

Quick search

Use the Quick search to do a simple search from a subset of selected databases, or to find a specific database for in-depth searching.

To use Quick search: Type your search terms(s) in the search box in the upper left corner of the screen. Select what you want to have searched using the check boxes below the search box:

• Articles from general database collections – finds articles in selected, general databases, which may also contain links to full-text. May be selected in combination with images and books.
• Images from general image databases – finds images in selected, general databases. May be selected in combination with articles and books.
• Books, etc. – in the library catalog – finds items in the Cornell University Library catalog. May be selected in combination with articles and images.
• Databases – finds specific databases, by title or subject. From the resulting list, you can create a search of a combination of the listed databases, or connect to a single database. May not be selected in combination with articles, books, or images.

Viewing results: By default, results will be grouped by database.  Click on an individual database name in the “Results by Resource” box to jump to the results from a particular database, or scroll through the list. Note that only the first 25 results from each database are displayed on the initial results page; click the Next Set… button at the end of each list to view more.  You may also view results sorted by relevancy, title, author, or date by using the pull-down menu at the top of the results list.

Viewing individual records: Click View to view the full record for the article (in the source database). Click Get it! Cornell to find full text online (if available), search the Cornell Library catalog, or request interlibrary loan or document delivery services.

Print, E-mail, or Save Results: Select some or all of your search results on a page by checking the appropriate box(es). Use the links at the top of the results page to print, e-mail, save, or export your results.

Subject Area Search

Use the Subject area search to find articles in one or more databases in a particular subject area.

To use Subject area search: Click on the subject heading of interest.  Enter a single term or phrase in the search box in the upper left of the screen. By default, all the databases in the category you select will be checked and included in a search. You may de-select any databases you do not wish to include in your search, or de-select all databases (using the Select/Deselect All Databases check boxes at the top or bottom of the screen) and add only those databases you wish to search. You may search as many databases as you like, although searching more databases may slow the search.

View results, individual records, and Print/E-mail/Save results as described above.

View A-Z List of Databases

Click the View A-Z List of Databases link to view a complete list of the databases available in Find it!  You may create a search of any combination of databases from this list. This can be particularly useful for interdisciplinary research.  Databases marked “direct access only,” which are not available for searching in the Find it! interface, may be accessed via the link in the list and searched directly.  Note that the databases available in Find it! represent only a fraction of the online resources available at Cornell. To access all materials available from Cornell University Library, including other reference resources, search the Library Catalog.

Advanced Search

For more precise searching, click the Advanced search link on any of the subject area lists or the A-Z List of Databases.  Type in your search term(s) and use the pull-down menus to specify where in the database record you would like each term to be searched (author, keyword, title, etc.). If you entered terms in more than one box, combine those terms by selecting And, Or, or Not. Using And will limit your results to items containing all search terms; using Or will broaden your results by including results with any of your terms. For more precise results, and to use the advanced tools available in specific databases, search the individual databases directly.

System Messages or Errors

No results or summary information, or error messages for a particular database – This may mean that Find it! is temporarily unable to access one or more databases.  In many cases, you will be able to search the database directly (even if you cannot connect through Find it!). To connect to a specific database directly, select “databases” in Quick search, search for the database by name, and click the link in the results.  If you experience problems with databases using either system, please fill out a Problem Connecting form (linked from the bottom of all library web pages) to notify library staff.

Cannot access Find it! – Please fill out a Problem Connecting form (linked from the bottom of all library web pages) to notify library staff.

Not Finding What You Need?

Contact library reference staff for assistance with Find it! . See the Ask A Librarian link on the Library Gateway.