Central Search

Central Search is a tool that enables users to search across a wide variety of library resources from a single, easy to use interface.  Users may choose to search all databases that cover a certain subject area or select a group of  favorite databases.

Please keep in mind that while over 60 databases and the library catalog are searchable through Central Search, some databases for which the library subscribes cannot be accessed through this interface. View the list of all library databases to find a specific database or view information by subject to find resources related to your area of interest. 

The Library catalog is listed in Central Search as "Austin Peay State University Woodward Library".

See below for a brief overview on how to use Central Search or click here to view a detailed guide (requires Microsoft Word).

You may access Central Search from anywhere with a valid APSU ID.

How to Use Central Search

Searching

Search by Subject:

The default screen for Central Search provides the following options:

Select All - Searches all subjects shown below.
General and Reference
Business
Health and Medicine
Humanities
Mathematics and Computer Science
Sciences
Social Sciences

Place a mark next to the subject you desire to search or check "Select All" to search all available databases. 

Clicking on the title of each subject provides a list of all the databases included in that category.  You may then choose to search all the databases in this subject or select specific titles.

Search by Database:

Click on "search by database" directly above the search box.  This screen provides an alphabetical list of all the databases available in Central Search.  Choose "Select All" to search all available databases or place a check next to all the titles you desire to search.

Basic Search:

Choose from the options shown below by clicking on the check mark and selecting the desired option.

 

Then, type your desired search term into the text box provided and click "Search."

Advanced Search:

Click on the advanced search tab directly beneath the Central Search title. This search allows two or more search terms to be combined together using Boolean operators. 

Type your desired search terms, select the appropriate search type for each one (title, author, full-text. keyword, subject, ISSN, or any) and then combine them by using the checkbox to select from the options shown below:

Description of Boolean Operators:

And: Use "and" specify that terms must appear in the items you retrieve.  This will limit the amount of results you retrieve.
Example: movies And advertising

Or: Use "or"  to preference that either or both of your search terms appear in your results.  This will increase the amount of results you retrieve.
Example: jam Or jelly

Not: Use "not" to forbid a specified word from appearing in the items resulting from your search.
Example: boxer Not fighter

Utilizing Results:

After performing a search, click on the title of each record to view the full citation, abstract, and full-text (if available) for the returned results.

Full Text: If full text is not available after clicking on  the title of the article, click on the icon to search for full-text within other available resources at Woodward Library.

Sort Results: Results are returned in order by date with the most recent entry listed first.  Results can also be sorted by title, author, or source by selecting the desired option under "Sort Results By" on the left column.  

Get more Results: View additional pages of results by clicking the numbers at the top of the page.  Click on "Get more Results" to see additional pages.

Results by Database: on the left side of the page shows the number of results returned from each individual database,  Click on the number to view the list of results.

Export Records: Click on export records at the top right of the page to select records for printing or saving.  Selected records will be transformed into a more appropriate format for those options.

Refine Search:  Click "Refine Search" near the top left corner to modify your previous search entry.