How do I search the DMU Library catalogue, databases, and e-publications from the LibGuides home page?

Updated

The DMU LibGuides home page at library.dmu.ac.uk gives you three separate starting points for finding material: Library Catalogue for books and physical items, Database A-Z for journal articles and subject databases, and E-Publication Finder for locating a specific journal or e-publication. Use the catalogue when you know a title or want to see what the library holds; use the Database A-Z when you want to search across articles on a topic; use the E-Publication Finder when you already have a journal name and need to check access.

The three main search tools and what each one does

Tool Use it when you want to... What it searches
Library Catalogue Find books, ebooks, and items the library holds The library's own holdings
Database A-Z Search journal articles, reports, and subject literature Individual databases (each with its own coverage)
E-Publication Finder Check whether a specific journal or e-publication is available Journal titles and full-text access routes

These are distinct systems. A catalogue search will not usually surface individual journal articles, and a database search will not reliably tell you whether the library owns a print book. Choosing the right box first saves time.

Library Catalogue

Use this when you have a title, author, or subject and want to know what is on the shelves or available as an ebook. It is the entry point for book-level searching.

Database A-Z

This is the list of databases the library subscribes to. Databases are the correct tool for finding articles on a topic, because they index journal content rather than whole books. Each database covers different subjects and date ranges, so if one returns little, try another from the A-Z list.

E-Publication Finder

Use this when you already know the journal you need — for example, you have a citation and want to check whether the full text is available. It resolves a journal title to the library's access, rather than searching by topic.

Catalogue vs database searching: the practical difference

  • Catalogue search → returns records for books, ebooks, and other held items. Good for "does the library have this book?"
  • Database search → returns article-level results from indexed journals. Good for "what has been written on this topic?"

If you are starting a literature search, begin with a database. If you have a reading list of books, begin with the catalogue. If you have a specific article citation, use the E-Publication Finder to check journal access, then locate the article.

Don't confuse the two search boxes

The home page has more than one search field, and they do different things:

  • Search this Guide — searches only the content of the current LibGuide page you are on. It will not find books, articles, or databases.
  • Search Library Website — searches the library website itself, helping you navigate to pages and services rather than to resources.

For finding actual material, use the dedicated Library Catalogue, Database A-Z, and E-Publication Finder links rather than either of these boxes.

LibKey Nomad

LibKey Nomad is listed on the home page as a tool for accessing resources. It is a browser extension that helps connect you to library full text when you are browsing outside the library site — useful when you land on a publisher page and want to check whether DMU provides access. Install it in your browser and it works in the background as you search the web.

Other entry points worth knowing

The home page also groups help by need and by user type, which can route you to the right tool faster:

  • I Need Help With... — Maths, Referencing & Searching, Writing & Study Skills
  • I am... — New Student, International Student, Researcher, DMU Staff Member, and others
  • Subject Guides — discipline-specific guidance on which databases and resources to use

If you are unsure which database suits your subject, a Subject Guide is usually the quickest route to a recommended starting point.

Quick verification steps

  1. From library.dmu.ac.uk, locate the Library Catalogue link and run a title search — you should see book/ebook records.
  2. Open Database A-Z and pick a subject database — you should see article-level results.
  3. Use the E-Publication Finder with a journal name — you should see access options for that title.
  4. If a link does not resolve, check the news items on the home page, as changes to Library Search and EBSCO databases are noted there.