Henry Whittemore Library
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RamSearch is a 'Discovery Tool' - it searches through almost all of our databases simultaneously. The 2 databases that it can't currently search are: Academic Video and Kanopy.
It's the quickest way to get started finding resources from our collections, especially when you're new and not yet familiar with all our databases. It's also very useful when researching interdisciplinary topics.
RamSearch has a simple search (one search box) and an Advanced search (multiple search boxes, and pull-down menus where one can choose to do searches using Boolean operators, or within specific database fields in order to do Field searching.
After you run an initial search, RamSesarch offers you ways to sort your results (via relevance or date published) and to limit/refine your results, such as by choosing peer-reviewed only, a date range, a specific format type (e.g.: articles versus books), and more.
You can also create a personal account where you can store search queries and search results that you have found while using RamSesarch, but you do have to make sure you are logged in to that account every time you use RamSeasrch.
The Minuteman Library Network, of which the Whittemore Library is a member, is a group of more than 40 Metro-West public and academic libraries that share physical and online resources, and an Online Search.
Physical Items held by other libraries can be 'Requested' and quickly brought by the Minuteman delivery service to your preferred library, and digital resources can be quickly accessed online, then read on phones, tablets, or computers via free apps.
Plus, any Minuteman Library patron can use their library card and account number to access and borrow items from these other Massachusetts library networks as well:
That's a LOT of borrowing power!
If you don't seem to have a library account number (normally that long barcode number on the back of your physical FSU I.D. card), please contact the Access Services Department.
Databases are a large part of how a university library provides the information its community needs. Technically databases are located online, but they're behind paywalls - because compared to the open internet, databases are full of higher quality, more authoritative, curated information that's organized in a systematic way to make information easier to find.
A database can contain any format of digital information: e-books, digital journal articles, digital newspaper articles, streaming videos, images, and so on. Often, an individual database will have multiple formats available, while others may specialize in only one format.
At the Whittemore Library, we have access to over 150 databases, since we support all the different programs offered at FSU. Some are general all-purpose academic databases, with information about a lot of topics, while others specialize on one discipline (like Nursing or Business).
See ALL our databases here, on our 'A - Z database list'
There, you can limit that long list by choosing a subject (Psychology or Art) or format type (articles vs e-books), to see a shorter list of what you are most interested in.
Sometimes people just want to look for a specific academic journal by name. Our Journal Search lets you do just that, and this is by far the quickest way to see if the Whittemore Library has access to the full text of a certain journal. You can also search by topic keyword, or just browse.
When you run a search, then click on a result, you will see precisely what we have access to - and we often have access to a journal from more than one database, so there may be a list of options to choose from, in order to go to full-text access.
Note how much coverage - what years, and what issues, a particular source supplies - we don't always have access to every issue. There also may be a 'full-text delay' on some titles - a time period - could be 6 months, could be a year - before you can read the full text in recent issues.
You can access this search function from the main page search box by choosing the 'Journals' tab, or by going to the Journal search page directly.
Our Research Guides are another great way to discover information you'll need for your assignments - they'll point you to the types of information you'll be using and need to find for your classes and your degree program. They include examples of useful books, periodicals, subject databases, academic journals, videos, useful online information, and more, and also useful tips on how to do research in your discipline area.
We have at least one resources guide for each degree program at FSU, and there are also specific guides for some courses.