Introducing NUsearch
Find out what NUsearch can do for you. See our top tips on how to get started.
What is NUsearch? | Top tips to get started | Help and support
NUsearch is the University's library discovery tool. Use it to find physical and online resources in our collections, including books, journals, databases, videos and more.
It's a gateway to quality and trusted resources. Discover more in our introductory video.
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Try our top ten tips to get started with NUsearch. To find out more follow the links to our support guides.
1. Sign in for the best search experience
Sign in with your University username and password to:
- access the full range of resources
- benefit from seamless access to online resources, especially from off campus
- manage your library account including current loans, requests and fines
- request items held in our libraries
- save results and searches in My Favourites
Find out more:
Your NUsearch account
2. Find and access online resources easily
We recommend being signed in to see the full range of resources and to click straight through.
Use the Available online filter to refine your search to only online resources.
You can also:
- Click the Blue Download PDF link, where available, to get instant access to the full text PDF
- Report a broken link using the pink exclamation icon (Report e-resource access issue) in the bottom right of the screen
- Download the Library Access browser extension for notifications when you find a resource outside of NUsearch that we have access to
Find out more:
Search basics Library Access
3. Use filters to focus your search
Too many results? Narrow down your search results by using filters.
Here are some of the most popular filters:
- Resource type - books, articles, theses etc
- Available online - find online resources
- Physical resources - find physical resources
- Date range - specify publication years
You can also set quick filters before you search. Use the drop-down menus under the search box.
Find out more:
Search basics
4. Save results with the Pin icon
When you are signed in use the Pin icon to:
- save individual or multiple search results
- save your search, to re-run later or create an email alert for new results
- access My Favourites, where you'll find all your saved records and searches
You can organise your saved records with labels. You can also export them to referencing tools like EndNote.
Find out more:
Saving and exporting results
5. Click and Collect
Use NUsearch to request and borrow physical resources from our libraries.
- Search NUsearch for the item you want to request.
- Click though to the full record, to see the location and availablity of all copies.
- Sign in to see the Request option.
- Choose the library you want to pick up the item from.
- We'll email you when it's ready for collection. We will hold the item for three days (seven days for part time and Enhanced Library Support students).
You can also use NUsearch to make scanning and interlibrary requests and book to view our Special Collections.
Find out more:
Requests and bookings
6. Help finding physical resources
Watch our video:
Finding physical resources
Within a resource record you can:
- Let us know if a book is missing by using the Can't find this on the shelf report option
- Use the Find it button to see a map of where your book is in our libraries
- Check out the Virtual Bookshelf to see related books on our library shelves nearby
- Access online Table of Contents in the Explore section to see if a book covers what you need
Find out more:
Search basics
7. Smart searching tips
NUsearch will return results that contain all the words you type.
To improve your search why not try:
- using quotation marks to search for an exact phrase e.g. "global warming"
- using AND, OR and NOT to combine and exclude words and phrases
- searching for words with different endings using an asterisk e.g. comput*
Consider using Advanced search, to help you build more complex searches. You can switch to it at any time from the basic search.
Find out more:
Making the most of NUsearch
8. Find related resources
Once you've found a useful resource, NUsearch can help you find related resources.
Within a resource record you can:
- Click the red citing this or cited in this arrow icons to explore other relevant articles
- Check out the Virtual Bookshelf to see related books on our library shelves nearby
- Look at the right-hand Related reading panel for recommended resources on a similar subject
Take a look at the Tags search, which contains resources that users have tagged by topic and key themes.
Find out more:
Making the most of NUsearch
9. Try subject databases to find information on a topic
You can use subject databases to find research on a specific topic, including articles, conference proceedings and more.
- Select Databases from the main menu to open the Databases search.
- Choose your subject from the categories.
- This will give you some key databases for your subject area to get started with.
See our Subject guides for help on using databases and finding other key resources for your subject.
Find out more:
Making the most of NUsearchSubject guides
10. If we don't have what you need our More Books service can help
There are over a million print and ebooks available in our libraries but sometimes we don't always have what you need or may not have enough copies.
Our More Books service allows you to:
- ask for extra copies
- suggest a book for purchase
- request an interlibrary loan
Find out more:
Requests and bookingsMore Books
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Get real-time support with using NUsearch by attending one of our live training and support sessions.
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