How to Access Research Guides, Articles & Databases on the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries Site

Updated

The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries site (lib.usm.edu) puts its main research tools in the Resources menu: Research Guides, Articles & Databases, and E-Journals. From the home page, open the Resources menu (or the matching links in the main navigation) to reach any of the three. You will land on the tool itself; some databases and e-journals are licensed, so off-campus access may require signing in through the libraries' system rather than opening the link directly.

Where each research tool lives

Tool What it is for Where to find it
Research Guides Subject and course guides assembled by librarians Resources menu → Research Guides
Articles & Databases Searchable article indexes and databases Resources menu → Articles & Databases
E-Journals Look up a specific journal title online Resources menu → E-Journals
My Library Account Your own borrowing and account record Resources menu → My Library Account

These same entries also appear in the main navigation and in the Quick Links area of the home page, so you can reach them without going through the menu.

Step-by-step: getting to a database or article

  1. Start at the libraries home page.
  2. Open the Resources menu.
  3. Choose Articles & Databases if you want to search across indexes, or Research Guides if you want a librarian-curated starting point for a subject or course.
  4. Select the database or guide you want.
  5. If you are asked to sign in, use your USM credentials; licensed content is not open to anonymous visitors.

Expected result: you reach the database search screen or the guide page. If a link stalls or asks for a login you do not have, that is the access-control step, not a broken link.

Research Guides vs. Articles & Databases vs. E-Journals

  • Research Guides — best when you are new to a topic and want recommended sources, search strategies, and contact points for a subject librarian.
  • Articles & Databases — best when you already know what you are looking for and want to run searches in a specific index.
  • E-Journals — best when you have a citation and need to check whether the libraries provide that exact journal online.

Related entry points worth knowing

The same Resources area also links to Course Reserves, Interlibrary Loan, Data Management, Library Instruction, Room Reservations, and a Style Guide. The home page additionally points to the Aquila Digital Community (the institutional repository), Forms, and the Patent and Trademark Resource Center.

Hours and contact

Cook Library hours are shown on the site as 7am – 12am. For help beyond the menus, the libraries list Ask-A-Librarian, Live Chat, Consultation, and an Employee Directory. The libraries can be reached at 118 College Drive #5053, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, or 601.266.4250.

Common snags

  • Menu vs. page links: the Resources menu and the main navigation carry the same destinations, so either path works.
  • Login walls: if a database or e-journal asks you to authenticate, that reflects licensed access; there is no indication on the site that these resources are open without signing in.
  • Wrong tool for the task: if you need one known journal, go to E-Journals first; if you need to browse a field, start with Research Guides.