Primo Search

Primo Search has the advantage of searching across most of the resources that the Library provides, and gives access to a range of resource types. But its sheer size and extent can be a disadvantage, and its search functions are not as sophisticated as in databases.

Databases, in comparison with Primo Search:

• are not as wide in their scope
• cover a more limited range of resources
• usually have quite sophisticated search functions
• are often targeted in their subject scope
• often have features specific to the subject area.

Google Scholar

With Google Scholar you can find scholarly articles and similar items using the familiar Google interface. It works best if you set it up to show Charles Sturt Library holdings. Its pros and cons are similar to those for Primo Search.

The Internet

The Internet can be a great source of information but can also give you irrelevant or unreliable information, and does not necessarily give you access to scholarly literature.

Databases, in comparison to general Internet searching:

• are more likely to contain scholarly material
• are often targeted to a subject area
• contain items that have been indexed – that is, someone has read each article and given it subject headings, which can be used as effective search terms
• have sophisticated search functions.