Let’s face it—when you’re shopping online, you don’t scroll through thousands of items. You filter by size, color, price, and reviews until you find exactly what you want. Guess what? Library research works the same way!

You Already Know How to Search
Whether you're on Amazon, Target, or Google, you:

  • Type in keywords
  • Use filters to narrow results
  • Scan for the best match
  • Read reviews (or abstracts!)

Library databases like Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, and ProQuest let you do all that—but with scholarly articles, books, and trusted sources your professors love.

Filters That Make Research Easier
In library databases, you can filter by:

📅 Publication date (great for current topics)
🧠 Peer-reviewed articles (professor-approved!)
📚 Subject area (to stay focused)
🔤 Full text available (so you can read it now)
It’s like shopping for the perfect source—without the shipping fees!

Still Can’t Find It? Try Google Scholar!
If your database search doesn’t turn up what you need, head to Google Scholar. It’s like the outlet store for academic articles—sometimes you’ll find open-access gems that aren’t in the databases.

So next time you’re doing research, treat it like online shopping: search smart, filter well, and find the perfect fit for your paper. And if you need help, your librarians are always here to guide you! 🛒📚