HUS 250: Seminar in Human Services

Sign in with your NECC Microsoft account (StudentID@student.necc.edu or StaffName@necc.mass.edu) to access library databases off-campus.  See the Office 365 Help page for help with your NECC Microsoft account.

Searching in a library database is different from searching on the open web.

Searching is most successful when a topic is broken down into keywords joined by 'and.'

Google Scholar allows you to search for scholarly articles using the familiar Google search box, and the techniques you are used to using in a Google search. Google Scholar is a resource worth trying if you find the information you need using the library databases. Unfortunately, some of the scholarly articles you will find using Google Scholar are not available in full-text or are not free.  

Hit a paywall? One disadvantage to Google Scholar is that not everything is freely available. You may be asked to pay money in order to view the article. Before you pay any money:

1. Ask a librarian for help. 
2. Fill out an interlibrary loan request and we will try to get the article from another library.
3. Use Full-Text Finder to search for the title of the journal, magazine, or newspaper that published the article to find out if NECC databases provide the full-text.
4. Check the holdings of Boston Public Library. Anyone who lives, works, or attends college in Massachusetts can get an electronic library card and access to all the BPL's electronic holdings.