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We are going to branch out a little with this week’s featured database. Google Scholar is not a library database per say, but it excellent for finding resources for research papers.

What is Google Scholar?

As the name implies, Google Scholar is the scholarly arm of the Google search engine. It searches across disciplines and source types to find article, theses, books, citation from academic publishers, or other open source resources.

Why should I use it?

Google Scholar uses different search parameters than the library’s databases, so that even using the same search terms will find different results. It also is a great way to get access to the open source resources that are not included in the Library’s databases

Should I pay to access articles I find on Google Scholar?

Never pay for an article on Google Scholar! You should copy and paste the article title into a catalog search. Carthage might own the article already. If not, you can click on the Interlibrary Loan button and we will request the article from another library. You should receive the article within a week.

Can I trust the articles found in Google Scholar?

You need to use some caution with the articles you find in Google Scholar. Because the search engine is pulling from such a wide array of sources, not every result will be the high quality scholarly work that you want to use for your research papers. It is important to evaluate your results for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose or the CRAAP TEST.

What should I do if I don’t find what I am looking for in Google Scholar?

Come to the library, of course. The library databases will have different articles than Google Scholar. Librarians are also here to help. We can sit down with you one on one and help you find what you are looking for. You can even request a meeting with a librarian with our Request a Librarian form.

If you would like to learn more about Google Scholar or one of the 162 library databases, please contact Elizabeth Lang with your questions at elang@carthage.edu.