The UO Libraries is offering tips that will help users of Google Scholar get better information and save time and money.

Many UO teachers, researchers and students use Google Scholar to search for journal articles or other scholarly publications. However, because many of Google Scholar's search results link to commercial journal articles, most people are only able to access an abstract and the citation details of an article – to read the entire article requires paying a fee.

However, many of these materials are also available to faculty, staff and students for free through the UO Libraries.

Library Systems Director Sara Brownmiller said that Google Scholar can be easily configured to show which of the search results are available from the library.

“Creating this affiliation allows people searching in Google Scholar to easily obtain the full text of articles and other electronic materials for free because they are licensed by the library,” Brownmiller said. “This is a valuable resource and we want people to take full advantage of it.”

Once a person has configured Google Scholar for affiliation with the University of Oregon they will be able to get a list of items that can be accessed via the UO Libraries. Brownmiller said off-campus access to these items is available only to current UO faculty, staff and students.

For more information, the library has created a step-by-step guide to the process.