If you use EBSCOhost databases you’ll notice recent changes to the interface. Last week EBSCOhost launched a new interface design which brings new features and functionality. Not sure which databases are EBSCOhost? Check out Databases by Vendor and view EBSCO.

Some of my favorite new features include:

• Slider to limit date range
• Breadcrumb trail of recent search clusters
• Related images appear in search results
  
• Thumbnails of images, photos, tables and graphs within an article appear in search results
  
• Improved relevancy ranking
• Ability to preview article by hovering over an icon in search results

For more information about the above and other interface changes, visit EBSCOhost 2.0 on the web, or view the Flash tutorial!

What do you think about the new interface?

We’ve just launched a new web guide! The Resources for International Students page was designed (with the aid of current UB international students) to pinpoint the resources of the UB Libraries that may be especially useful to those studying in the United States.

Not sure exactly about how our books and collections are organized and where to go to find what you need? Who are the librarian liaisons for International Students and where do you go for assistance with research papers? We also have listed how to find books for helping you brush up on your English Grammar and Pronunciation as well as Language Dictionaries.

Check out the guide for our list of popular web links for ESL learners and ESL teaching. We also tell you how to find fiction, magazines, books, and movies in your language of choice.

If you are an international student and have a suggestion for improving this site or need assistance feel free to leave a comment or use any of the ask a librarian services.

Searching for articles in databases can sometimes be frustrating. Below I share my three (3) tips for getting started with database searching. Whether you prefer reading a manual, watching a video, or receiving one-on-one assistance, you will find at least one tip to help you get started.

Tip #1: Help Documentation
Many databases have a link to a Help document. This provides information on how to structure your searches. In many cases Help will teach you about search strategies and provide tips and tricks to get the results you desire. Commonly you will find a link to the Help document in the upper-right corner of the search page. It is important to read the Help document because the search strategies may vary in different databases.

Note: Help documentation may also be named something else. i.e: Search Tips

Tip #2: Database Video Tutorials
A new addition to the UB Libraries web site is the Database Video Tutorials. This is a collection of links to various video tutorials available for many of the social sciences and humanities databases. When you watch the tutorials, be sure to have your speakers on or headset connected to your computer because some of the videos have audio which is helpful to listen to.

To watch the tutorials, you will need Adobe Flash Player.

Tip #3: Ask a Librarian
We are here to help you! If you have any questions, database related or not, please let us know.

Bonus! For more information on what a database is and how to get started, check out our Research Tips and view the Finding Articles tutorial.

Students are often frustrated when it comes to forming their bibliographies. However, with the advent of online citation creator, forming your bibliography is easier than ever. Previously we have written about EndNote™, a citation management software. Many students have mentioned to me that this is often best used for lengthy research papers. For shorter papers and bibliographies, you may want to look into the following online citation creators:

KniteCite (http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php)–This citation creator was developed by Calvin College, Heckman Library. The great part about KniteCite is that it makes it easy to cite a multitude of resources, including multimedia.

OttoBib (http://ottobib.com/) –A very simple, very easy to use citation creator. However, you can only use it cite books.

BibMe (http://www.bibme.org/) –Developed by students at Carnegie Mellon, it can generates MLA citations to your computer in .rtf format. You can also export in other citation styles.

EasyBib(http://www.easybib.com/) –I have used EasyBib in the past, and it’s a definite time saver. Keep in mind it’s a bit limited in formats, for example if you are looking to cite legal references you may have to look elsewhere.

If you ever find yourself unsure about how to cite a particular resource, feel free to grab a copy of the citation style manual for APA, Chicago, MLA and other styles at the reference desks of Lockwood or the Undergraduate Library.

Remember: It may seem easy just to cut and paste information you find into your paper, but always be sure to give credit where credit is due!