Making Google Scholar Work for You

In November 2004, Google launched its newest search tool, Google Scholar, which is currently a beta service. It indexes items Google considers "scholarly," including articles, theses, books, preprints, abstracts, conference proceedings, and technical reports. We are working with Google on this new service, so please provide any feedback to us at webmaster@libraries.mit.edu.

Questions

1. Some articles ask for a password. How do I access MIT Libraries' licensed copies of articles that I find via Google Scholar?
If you are on campus at MIT, a Full Text - MIT Libraries link will appear after items that are included in one of the MIT Libraries' paid subscriptions.

If you are off campus, click on Scholar Preferences from the main Google Scholar page and find MIT in the Institutional Access field. Save your preferences and then go back to searching. (If you are searching from off-campus you will need to have valid certificates on your computer to get access to the MIT Libraries' resources).

2. Why does the "Full Text - MIT Libraries " link appear after some items and not others?
Google Scholar displays this link after comparing the citation to our list of electronic subscriptions. Keep in mind that Google Scholar does not know when we have the print version, nor can it match an incomplete citation. The Beta service is working on improving its accuracy for identifying the MIT Libraries' electronic holdings. So if the item is not available for free via the web, be sure to search our catalog, Barton or Vera: e-journals & databases to see if the MIT Libraries own that title.

3. Is everything in Google Scholar free?
No. Google Scholar includes many citations that link directly to publishers' web sites of which most will charge a fee for access. However, the MIT Libraries has subscribed to many of these publications for the MIT community. (see next question)

4. How can I get the full text through the MIT Libraries' subscriptions?
The MIT Access link should be your first choice. If this link is not available, try every link, as Google Scholar may find several sources for the same citation. When you are unable to find free access to full text through Google Scholar, use the appropriate resources at the MIT Libraries, including: Barton, Vera, Ask Us, and Interlibrary Borrowing to get access to the title.

5. How comprehensive is Google Scholar?
Google Scholar searches open access materials, including DSpace, as well as items from many publishers, including some of the resources to which the MIT Libraries subscribe. However, Google Scholar only searches a fraction of the published scholarly literature. Use Vera to search one of the many databases covering scholarly publications. Some of the subject specific databases are ABI/Inform, Compendex, EconLit, ERIC, INSPEC, and Medline.


6. How do I search by author, or limit to certain publications or dates?
Use Advanced Scholar Search which allows for author, publication and date range searching.


7. What about citation searching?
Google Scholar provides forward citation searching, automatically extracting and displaying works cited as separate results. For backwards and forwards citation searching, use Web of Science available from the MIT Libraries through Vera.

Please keep in mind that since Google Scholar is a beta product, things keep changing. The content, coverage and functionality may be different from when you last used it. Again, if you have any suggestions or comments, please send them to us at webmaster@libraries.mit.edu.