The cross-search.
Using a cross-search tool, you can search across a number of different bibliographic databases, which can save you time and effort. One search can find you numerous results from a number of sources, to meet your need. Even if one cross-search identifies too many potentially relevant resources, there are benefits to cross-searching, as this section explains.
One interface
Individual bibliographic databases all have different interfaces, offering information about the database and search functions in different places. When searching the databases separately, you will need to become familiar with the individual interfaces, in order to understand how each database can be searched. A cross-search tool offers you one interface to search many databases, which will also help you to become familiar with some of the search functions that individual databases will offer you.
Common search functions
When searching a bibliographic database, you will be given the option of searching for particular features, and not all databases will have the same options. If you are not already familiar with the type of search functions that bibliographic databases offer you, it can be daunting to come across the many different search options that are available to you. A cross-search tool allows you to use the most commonly offered search functions, so you can learn about these before you get to grips with the more detailed options that individual databases will offer you.
Identify useful databases
Cross-search tools also group your search results in sets, according to the databases your results came from. This means that you will quickly become aware of which databases are returning hits relevant to your needs. The cross-search allows you to quickly eliminate databases from your search strategy that at first seem relevant from their description, but do not return very relevant results from your cross-search. You can then take the time to investigate individual, relevant databases further, if you choose.
One cross-search might identify enough relevant resources for you to investigate. Often, more results than you can handle will be returned from a cross-search. Some cross-search tools will enable you to narrow your search focus, but if you find that the cross-search tool does not allow you to limit your results to a manageable number, you may need to search the most relevant databases separately. Please see the tutorial on "Cross-searching concepts" for more information about cross-searching strategies.
The GetRef tool is an example of a cross-searching interface. Logging into GetRef will give you access to only those databases that your institution has subscribed to on your behalf, so using GetRef will help you to become familiar with databases that you will have access to individually.
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