Supersearching with Metafind
There are many different ways of finding information sources. This subject guide has explained how to use the Library Catalogue, databases, electronic journals and the Internet individually. Metafind lets you search across Catalogue, the Internet and a range of the databases. The link to Metafind is in the centre of the front page of the Catalogue. When you do a search it will return the first 10 hits from each database that you search. When you retrieve the information you will be asked for your library account details. You can then access all the results regardless of which database it is on.
Metafind is a useful resource particularly when you are searching for images or information on unusual topics (for example, spinal cord injury and spirituality).
However, it only allows you to cross search a very limited number of databases. It also does not include an index (medical subject headings). For example, if you search for ‘heart attack’ it will not find things which use the phrases ‘myocardial infarction’ or ’MI’ instead.
Further information about using Metafind is available here.
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