SilverPlatter Databases on SOUTHcat Plus

Biological Abstracts is the online equivalent of the print Biological Abstracts (R), the abstracting and indexing source for information on the life sciences. USA's access begins in 1969 and continues through the present. Biological Abstracts is updated quarterly.

GeoRef indexes and abstracts over 2.2 million records of North America since 1785, and other areas of the world since 1933.

Mental Measurements Yearbook provides full-text information about and reviews of English-language standardized tests. It is produced by the Buros Institute.

Philosopher's Index indexes and abstracts books and journal articles in philosophy and related fields such as religion, aesthetics and epistemology.

PsycINFO is an index for articles, technical reports, books and book chapters in the field of psychology. Journal coverage (1887 - present) includes over 1,300 English and non-English language periodicals. Chapter and book coverage (1987 - present) includes English language materials published worldwide. The PsycINFO database is updated monthly. PsycINFO is produced and copyrighted (c) by the American Psychological Association, all rights reserved.

SPORT Discus is an index for material in the sport sciences, including sport medicine, sport psychology and biomechanics. It includes journal articles, magazines, newsletters, books, conference proceedings, dissertations, reports, and other monographs. SPORT Discus also indexes a microform collection that dates back to 1949 (the bulk of these are from the University of Oregon microfiche collection of North American Dissertations on Sport and Physical Education).

Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory provides data on over 210,000 regularly published and irregularly issued serials including over 47,000 cessations since 1979. Purchasing and contact information is also provided for publishers.

These databases can be accessed on campus and remotely with a current USA ID. To connect from this page, choose this link.

1. Choose the SilverPlatter link from Articles and Indexes on the University Library’s homepage
2. WebSPIRS 4.x is Java-enabled. This guide addresses only searches using WebSPIRS 4.x.
3. Select database(s) – one or a combination of databases is possible. Click in the checkbox to select – a checkmark will appear when the database is selected. To unmark, just click in the box a second time.
4. Open selected databases – button is near the top of the screen On the search page, the pull-down menu underneath Databases in Use will give detailed information on each database, including sample searches, field descriptions, stopwords, truncation (*), wildcards (?), and using the Thesaurus.
   • System will ignore stopwords if you include them in your search
   • Wildcard symbol (?) can be used anywhere in a term except as the first character. It can substitute for one or no characters. Examples: wom?n or m?cdonald
   • Truncation (*) can substitute for any string of zero or more characters in your term. It can be used anywhere in term except as the first character.
   • Search tips, examples and a link to a WebSpirs tutorial appear the bottom half of the screen when you first open databases but they are minimized after you enter your search terms.
5. WebSPIRS can also suggest the best databases for you to use. Choose  from the  top of the screen.  Type in your search term and click on Find Relevant Databases. The system will display the databases with the most articles on your topic in the bottom portion of the screen. Check the databases you want and click on Open Selected Databases.
6. Select language – this can be done on the search screen or as part of setting other limits.
7. Limit your search. The types of limits available are different in each database (many more are available in PsycINFO) but the process is the same. Setting limits must be done before the search is executed. Choose the Limit Your Search button . Examples:
   • Document type (journal article or book)
   • Publication year (1998 to 2000)
   • Age group (adolescence)
   • Population (human)
   • Publication type (case study or empirical study)
   • Classification Code
8. Select your limits then choose Set Limits button at top right .Will return to search screen. Search limits will appear in bold type on the limit your search line and will remain in effect until you click on the button to .
9. Select type of search: Words Anywhere, Title, Author or Subject.
10. Type search terms in FIND box.
11. Click on . Search results will be displayed.
12. The default display does not include descriptors or publication type. To change these options, choose . Can change the number of records to display at one time and the fields to show. Select from the top right. Changes will remain in effect until you clear them or logout.

    There are many hotlinks in each record that will allow you to jump to another topic or to see other items by a particular author in that database. It is easy to move completely away from your original search topic. You can retrieve your search history by returning to the search screen.

13. To move through the pages of a search, click on .

14. To modify a search, click on button at the top right of the screen.
    • Use of an operator (and, or, near, etc.) at the beginning of a search statement automatically combines that search with the previous one.
    • When you choose the Back to Search button, your search history will be displayed on the bottom half of the screen. The word Display will appear next to the number of results. To re-execute a search, click on Display.
    • Terms from the search history can be combined by marking and choosing an operator and clicking on button.
    • You can limit to a field if you know the field labels without having to go to Limit your Search. Field labels can be found under each database information dropdown menu at top right. Examples:
      • (conduct disorder) in SU
      • …and PY>1997
      • South Alabama in AF
15. Mark the records you want by clicking in the box at the beginning of each record. Then choose your method of delivery: print, email or save (download).
    • Print
      • Select Print button. Another window will open.
      • Select options as desired: marked records only, which fields to include, include search history, etc.
      • Then click on button. Another window will open and a dialog box will appear which tells you how to print and reminds you to close the window after printing.
      • Choose OK
      • Then go to File and select Print. You can go to Print Preview first if you want a page count.
      • Click on button at top right.
    • E-mail
      • Select e-mail button. Another window will open.
      • Type in your email address and select your options.
      • Then click on at top right.
      • You will see a dialog box which says your records have been mailed. Click on OK.
      • Click on Close Window at top right.
    • Save
      • Have a formatted disk ready.
      • Select Save button. Another window will open.
      • Select desired options.
      • Click on at top right. A Save As dialog box will open. If at home you may save to any location. If in the library you must save to A: drive.
      • Name the file if you wish and click on Save. The Save As box will close automatically when the download is complete.
      • Close Window.
16. It is possible to access some full-text articles through a feature called . When the full-text is available through ScienceDirect, EBSCO Online and Highwire Press, you'll see a FTXT field with a button. Next to it will be the name of the service you'll be taken to. Click on the name of the service and you'll be taken to the full-text of the article. NOTE: In the case of ScienceDirect and EBSCO Online, the full-text is only available for journals that USA subscribes to. EBSCO Online is only available on-campus; for remote access to ScienceDirect, you need to be USA faculty, staff or a currently-enrolled student.
17. It is also possible to check the library's catalog for holdings without losing your search. When you see a message that reads "*LHM: USA owns, please check SOUTHcat, " click on the button to open a new window connecting to the journal record in SOUTHcat. You can easily check for the Libraries' holdings, then close the window without exiting your WebSpirs session.
18. To end the session, choose button. The screen will always go to WebSPIRS Logout. Cannot "restart" from off-campus locations; you need to go back to the library homepage (http://library.southalabama.edu). Select Home or another web address to leave that screen.
19. WebSPIRS will often open multiple windows when performing some activities. Look for the dialog boxes that remind you when you will have to close windows in order to return to your search results or look for the button at the top right of the page.

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Questions ( webref@jaguar1.usouthal.edu) or call (251) 460-7938.
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Last updated: 01/16/02. kpw