So you're addicted to Google, Try Google Scholar!

So you just can't get away from using Google for your article searches, well truth be known by using Google you are making your work two or three million times less efficient than it needs to be.

There is a Google alternative to Googling. Google Scholar.


So what is Google Scholar you ask? Here is Google's answer.

Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations. Google Scholar helps you identify the most relevant research across the world of scholarly research.

But wait there's more, Google makes it even easier!

Google Scholar's Library Links!!!

Using the library links (located under the Scholar Preferences), the user, that'd be you, has the ability to specify certain libraries that they want to be included in their search.



A few of the local library collections have the ability to be searched by Google Scholar include: MARVEL, University of Maine, Colby College, Bowdoin College, Bates College, as well as a few others. To look for a particular Library type the name, or part of it in the Library Links box and click Find Library, it is that easy. If they do not yet participate in this program, they will either be grayed out, or not show up.

To begin search Google Scholar the same you would Google. To illustrate how easy using Google Scholar is, and how 2-3 million times more efficient than Google, I did a search for Community Corrections in both search engines. Below are the results of this search.



The top half, a normal Google search yielded 4+ million returns from anyone and everyone, Google Scholar, located on the bottom half, yielded 245,000 results taken from Books, Academic Journals, Reports, and Theses, with 90% of the clutter and noise eliminated from your search, making it easier and more efficient to sort through your search results. Remember if you find an article that is not full-text, or requires a fee in Google Scholar, Send us the citation and we will try to get it for free for you through Interlibrary Loan.

If you would like to learn more about using Google Scholar (http://scholar.google.com/), stop by the library or drop me an email and I would be happy to show you.

P.S. After the Thanksgiving Break we'll explore Google Books.