Written by: Isabella Bickhaus
If you’ve used the Discover@MU search bar on the library’s home page before this semester, you might be surprised to find a new interface. Beyond the homepage, this interface change includes all databases sold by EBSCO, including favorites like PsycInfo and ERIC.
One improved feature is the “Peer-Reviewed (Academic) Journals” filter, which is found underneath the search bar after an initial search. Although this was a feature on the old interface, it is now easier to find and apply for research projects that require peer-reviewed sources. Quick tip: if you apply this filter, it will apply to future searches until you turn it off.
Along with a change in aesthetics, the new interface offers several new exciting features, like a concept map. To access this tool, make your initial search through the Discover@MU search bar and then you’ll find it on the left-hand side toolbar underneath “Research Tools.” This will take you to a new tab where you can view concepts related to your search in a grid or map format. This tool could be helpful brainstorming in the early stages of research for a project or paper, or to deepen your understanding of the context surrounding a specific topic.
Another new component of this interface is the natural language search option. While searching the way you have in Google has always been a part of the Discovery layer, this AI tool expands on your search by looking for similar terms. Like the concept map, you will first have to make an initial search on the Discover@MU search bar. Underneath the filters at the top of the page, there is an option to turn on natural language search. If you’re new to researching, this tool could be a helpful starting point and can find different resources than the advanced search.
In addition to concept maps and natural language search, you can now easily access your personal dashboard through the left-hand side toolbar. Here, your project folders, saved articles and searches, recent activity, requests, loans, and journal alerts are found. If your project folders didn’t migrate to the new interface, this LibGuide gives detailed instructions on how to retrieve them.
For any questions or concerns, the LibGuide previously mentioned or the feedback option on the right sidebar are great places to start. However, if you would like research help, using the live chat on the bottom right or scheduling a consultation with a research librarian are still excellent options. Happy Researching!