Recognised as a Guest when you Login to MetaLib?

I've had a number of enquiries recently from users who have wondered why they are only recognised as a guest once they have logged into MetaLib (the Library cross-searching tool). Please be assured that this is completely normal! If you have got as far as accessing the MetaLib cross-searching tool then you are fully authenticated as a University of Liverpool user.

However, MetaLib does have some extra features that you can use by logging in once in MetaLib with your MWS username and password. These features include: saving search results to a personal 'My Space' area; creating lists of your favourite e-journals or databases. Please see this Library FAQ for more details of how to do this and do ask if you have any questions (onlinelibrarian@liverpool.ac.uk).

SFX and Metalib unavailable Sun 15th June 6am - 12 noon (UK time)

SFX / find it @ liverpool and Metalib will be unavailable for 6 hours between 6am and 12 noon (UK time) on Sunday 15th June because the servers need to be physically moved to a new location within the Ex Libris Data Center in Chicago.E-journals, databases and e-books will still be accessible via the Library catalogue.

You can check what time this is where you are here.

Are your Searches not Finding What you Want? Try these Search Tips

Isn't it annoying when you search a Library resource, you're sure that there must be something written on the subject you are interested in, but you can't find any relevant search results? If you find that sometimes this happens to you then you may find some search tips helpful. There are MetaLib search tips specifically for the MetaLib cross-searching tool, and some more general search tips which apply to most databases. Take a look, you may find them useful :-)

Saving search results using MetaLib

When you search MetaLib, the Library cross-searching tool, you may want to save some of your search results so you can go back to them later. This is easy to do by logging into MetaLib with your MWS username and password and using the 'My Space' area. Instructions are provided in this Library FAQ, but please do ask if you have any questions: Online_Librarian@embanet.com.

Not finding full text using MetaLib search?

Do you find that sometimes you search MetaLib, the Library cross-searching tool, but you are denied access to the full text of a journal article? There are two main reasons why this happens:

1. Your search results may contain articles from journals that the Library do not subscribe to. Some of the Library databases are indexes that include some references to articles the Library do not subscribe to. If this is the case, take a look at these suggestions on how to find resources the Library don't have available.
2. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it is not possible to maintain a link to an article via EZproxy through all the steps that SFX needs to perform to construct a link to an article. To check whether the Library do subscribe to the journal, year and volume you require, search the University of Liverpool catalogue or the A-Z list of e-journals for the journal title. If the Library do subscribe and it is just the link that is breaking, you should be able to access the article through this route. If you have followed a link to an e-book and you are denied access try the Library catalogue e-book search.

Please do ask if you have any questions about this or any other Library matters.

Personalise MetaLib - and use advanced features!

Now the Library search tool, MetaLib, has been available for a few weeks, you may be interested in using the option to login so you can personalise it and access more advanced features, such as saving articles from your searches, using the My Space area.

To login to MetaLib just click on the padlock icon at the top right of Metalib screen and login using your MWS username and password. Note that this takes you to the 'Liverpool portal' for on campus students, so to access the 'Laureate portal' click on the portal icon at the top right of the screen and then select Laureate. To check that you are in the correct portal once you have logged in, look in the top right corner of your MetaLib screen - it should say your username, LAUREATE

After you have done your search and you are presented with the search results in MetaLib, you will see a plus sign next to each result. Click on the plus sign to add the article to your My Space area. Access My Space by selecting the My Space tab at the top of the MetaLib screen.

Once logged into MetaLib you can also use My e-Journals and My Databases.

My e-Journals allows you to create your own lists of your favourite e-journals. Instead of having to locate the e-journal each time you want to use it, just go to My e-Journals instead.

My Databases allows you to create your own lists of your favourite databases, and categorise them into folders if you want to. Instead of having to locate the database each time you want to use it, just go to My Databases instead. If you organise your resources into folders, those will appear in QuickSearch and ExpertSearch in Metalib.

If you have any questions please ask Stephanie Allen, Online Librarian.

How to find a specific database from the Library

It's easy now to cross-search key collections of databases using 'Quick search' from the Library home page. 'Quick search' enables you to search the twelve key databases in your subject area in one search.

But if you want to make the most of the more advanced searching features available using the native interfaces of databases, such as, Emerald Fulltext, Business Source Premier, ACM Digital Library, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source, you may find these instructions from the 'How to use the Library guide' helpful. They explain how to find a specific database from the Library.

Improve your MetaLib searching techniques with these search tips

The 'Quick search' option for MetaLib (the new Library search tool) is relatively easy to use as it uses 'Google type' search syntax. However, if you want to improve your searching techniques, take a look at these tips on searching MetaLib. And if you need more advice on searching, contact Stephanie Allen, Online Librarian.

Library database pages changed to new style MetaLib pages

The Library has now switched from the old style ASP database pages to the new style MetaLib database pages. This means that the links in the left navigation of the Online Library pages have changed to the following:

Library resources for Management Subjects
Library resources for Computing Subjects
Library resources for Public Health Subjects

Login to EZproxy with your MWS username and password when prompted. You will then be taken to 'Expert Search' the key twelve databases in your subject.

From here you can:

- Type in your search term and then select the database(s) you want to search by making sure there is a tick next to the database(s) you want.
- Link to the native database interface by clicking on a database title.
- Use the 'Find database' option to locate a specific a database and link to the native database interface.
- Use the other cross-searching options, such as cross-search e-book collections, more collections, general reference collections.

If you have any questions please contact the Online Librarian.

Access to Library databases soon switching to MetaLib

As part of improving access to Library resources, in the next few days, the Library will be switching to our new style MetaLib database pages from the old style ASP database pages. This will mean that the links in the left navigation of the Online Library pages that currently link to to the ASP lists of databases will change to the following:

Library resources for Management Subjects
Library resources for Computing Subjects
Library resources for Public Health Subjects

Login to EZproxy with your MWS username and password when prompted. You will then be taken to 'Expert Search' the key twelve databases in your subject. From here you can:

1. Type in your search term and then select the database(s) you want to search by making sure there is a tick next to the database(s) you want.
2. Link to the native database interface by clicking on a database title.
3. Use the 'Find database' option to locate a specific a database and link to the native database interface.
4. Use the other cross-searching options, such as cross-search e-book collections, more collections, general reference collections.

Why not have a look now so you will be prepared for the change?

If you have any questions please contact the Online Librarian.

MetaLib available again

The Library's cross-searching tool, MetaLib, is now available again. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this down time has caused.

MetaLib currently unavailable

MetaLib is currently unavailable. The problem is being investigated and we hope that it will be available again soon. The old style ASP Library web pages that provide links to key Library databases are working (Management; Computing; Public Health) and also the e-journal search and the e-book search.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused. I will update the blog as soon as I hear more about this.

Good news! You can now search multiple Library databases in one quick search!

The Library is moving to a much more powerful searching tool called MetaLib. This allows users to search multiple Library databases in one quick, easy search. The ability to cross-search Library databases is something that many of our users have asked for and we hope it will be a useful search tool. Even if you don't use MetaLib for 'metasearching' it is still a more flexible way of locating Library databases and e-journals.

Use your Managed Windows Service (MWS) username and password to login to EZproxy to give you access to resources. Almost all resources are now linked via EZproxy, which no longer suffers from conflicts with firewalls. Once you have logged in to EZproxy you will be able to follow links to other EZproxy-authenticated resources without having to login again.

Athens login is only used for resources that require it on campus as well as off. Whenever Athens is required, the Library links to a page which offers a link to the login page and a link to the resource, together with tips on using the Athens toolbar and Athens cookie. In the near future the Library login box for Athens and EZproxy login will be removed from the Library pages to play down the need to use Athens.

There is a guide to getting started with MetaLib which explains how to use it, but please note that other guides and Library documentation are in the process of being updated.

The best place to start using MetaLib is from the Online Library home page. Try out a search and let me know if you have any questions or comments. We welcome feedback and we will use it to help refine and improve the interface and instructions.

To enable a smooth changeover to the new searching tool for users, the links for Library Resources for Management, Computing and Public Health subjects located to the left of all Library pages still link to the old style database ASP web pages, but these will soon be altered to link to the MetaLib search tool.

Please do ask if you have any questions.

Want a quick, easy search? Coming soon from the Library...MetaLib!

In the few weeks the Library will be introducing a new search tool called MetaLib. This will allow you to cross-search the key collections in your chosen subject area in one quick and easy search. You will just need to login to EZproxy with your MWS username and password, type in your search, choose the collection you want to search, and from your search results you should be able to link to the full text document if it's available from the Library.

You will also be able to cross-search e-book collections, newspapers, official publications, theses and dissertations, dictionaries & encyclopedias.

Of course you will still be able to search the native interfaces of Library databases if you prefer to or if you want to do more advanced searches.

Watch this space for further announcements....