McFarlin Memo - LibGuides at University of Tulsa

In this series for the McFarlin Memo, we will be highlighting new digital resources as well as offering fresh usage ideas for those long-standing resources. The goals of this series are that you learn something new, and feel more confident when navigating McFarlin's excellent databases and digital collections.

At the beginning of this semester, the EBSCO database suite received an interface refresh which improved accessibility and expanded the capabilities for saving and searching within the databases. For the first “Digital Discovery" in this new series, I will offer guidance on these new features to help you get the most out of your time on any EBSCO database.

What is EBSCO?
This is a database hosting site that provides access to thousands of journal articles, eBooks, popular periodicals through databases. McFarlin Library currently subscribes to 64 of the EBSCO databases. EBSCO offers advanced features that allow you to search multiple databases with a single set of search terms, making it a great starting place for many students. Within the EBSCO suite, there are databases for multiple content areas. Some of those noteworthy databases are:

Academic Search Complete – this is a general, multi-disciplinary academic database that offers coverage for many current topics in scholarly research. If you want to get a handle on database research, Academic Search Complete is an excellent place to begin.
Business Source Complete – a great choice for researchers working in marketing, management, finance, and other disciplines of business. Not only does this database offer access to premier business journals, it also includes industry reports, country reports, company profiles, and SWOT analyses.
CINAHL – a premier nursing resource that often has surprising interdisciplinary coverage, this database is excellent for beginning nursing/health science students, as well as those who have research that overlaps within areas of mental health and general well-being.
MLA International Bibliography – this database is produced by the Modern Language Association and offers electronic coverage of their extensive bibliography. Dating back to the 1920s, this database contains over 2.2 million citations from more than 4,400 journals & series, and 1,000 book publishers that cover literature, language and linguistics, folklore, literary theory & criticism, dramatic arts, as well as the historical aspects of printing and publishing.

What’s new with EBSCO?
In January this database suite got a facelift, which included the relocation of many features. And though the overall functionality of EBSCO has not changed, many of the shortcuts and limiting features have been relocated.

Below is a short video that details some of the major changes.

TL;DW (too long; didn't watch) Summary:

The advanced search is still the default.
There are quick filters on the top of each results page that allow you do refine by full text, peer reviewed, date, and source type.
The all filters menu opens on the right side of the screen, and offers a fully nested list of refiners that the previous interface offered.
Within in a record page for an article the same information is available, but is arranged differently. Notably, the abstract is now further down on the page and the links to download a copy of the text are at the top of the record.
There is no longer a search history tab. Users will instead need to select the “recent activity” option on the left side of the screen and copy and paste the link in the URL bar. (Though the MyEBSCO account option is a better saving option.)
MyEBSCO is a new account feature that allows users to save specific search results as well as searches with any applied filters. Additionally, if you are logged in at the beginning of your session, the MyEBSCO will track your search history in the “recent activity” section of the dashboard.

Most helpful features of the new interface?
Truly, the MyEBSCO account feature is one of the best improvements to this database group. Setting up an account can be done with your TU email, and it allows you save searches and articles with ease. If you are gathering research on a specific topic, the account feature will also assist you in setting up alerts for new articles.
The overall layout of the article results page is sleek and easy to navigate. The option to read articles in HTML format (though not available for all articles) offers some accessibility features like a table of contents, translation features, and the option to download an audio file of the narrated text.

Tips and tricks for using EBSCO databases.

When choosing search terms, take advantage of the autofill for term variation. This will expand the number of results you receive, ensuring that you are not missing articles that are still relevant to your concept but use a different iteration of the phrasing you intially chose.
When you need a term to appear in the main concepts or ideas of the article’s text, you can change the field to “subject term” to ensure that your results do not just briefly mention the term.
Do not limit your results to full text only. As a TU student, faculty, or staff member you have access to ILL. You can use this service to get articles for free, preventing you from missing out on valuable sources.
If you want to get the most of your research time, begin your searches with broader, all-encompassing terms and then add in more specific terminology to additional fields as needed. Combining search terms strategically is one of the ways that databases can give you better, more reliable information than platforms like Google Scholar. The multi-term searches in combination with database filters provide a robust search with excellent results.

Need more help?
Consider scheduling a Personalized Research Assistance session with a librarian. One of the knowledgeable staff at McFarlin can guide you through any of the EBSCO databases, or help you navigate the new interface features with ease.

Recent Posts

Digital Discoveries - New EBSCO Interface

In this series for the McFarlin Memo, we will be highlighting new digital resources as well as offering fresh usage ideas for those long-standing resources. The goals of this series are that you learn something new, and feel more confident when navigating McFarlin's excellent databases and digital collections. At the beginning of this semester, the EBSCO database suite received an interface refresh which improved accessibility and expanded the capabilities for saving and searching within the databases. For the first “Digital Discovery" in this new series, I will offer guidance on these new features to help you get the most out of your time on any EBSCO database. What is EBSCO?This is a database hosting site that provides access to thousands of journal articles, eBooks, popular periodicals through databases. McFarlin Library currently subscribes to 64 of the EBSCO databases. EBSCO offers advanced features that allow you to search multiple databases with a single set of search terms, making it a great starting place for many students. Within the EBSCO suite, there are databases for multiple content areas. Some of those noteworthy databases are:Academic Search Complete – this is a general, multi-disciplinary academic database that offers coverage for many current topics in scholarly research. If you want to get a handle on database research, Academic Search Complete is an excellent place to begin.Business Source Complete – a great choice for researchers working in marketing, management, finance, and other disciplines of business. Not only does this database offer access to premier business journals, it also includes industry reports, country reports, company profiles, and SWOT analyses.CINAHL – a premier nursing resource that often has surprising interdisciplinary coverage, this database is excellent for beginning nursing/health science students, as well as those who have research that overlaps within areas of mental health and general well-being. MLA International Bibliography – this database is produced by the Modern Language Association and offers electronic coverage of their extensive bibliography. Dating back to the 1920s, this database contains over 2.2 million citations from more than 4,400 journals & series, and 1,000 book publishers that cover literature, language and linguistics, folklore, literary theory & criticism, dramatic arts, as well as the historical aspects of printing and publishing.What’s new with EBSCO? In January this database suite got a facelift, which included the relocation of many features. And though the overall functionality of EBSCO has not changed, many of the shortcuts and limiting features have been relocated. Below is a short video that details some of the major changes. TL;DW (too long; didn't watch) Summary:The advanced search is still the default.There are quick filters on the top of each results page that allow you do refine by full text, peer reviewed, date, and source type. The all filters menu opens on the right side of the screen, and offers a fully nested list of refiners that the previous interface offered.Within in a record page for an article the same information is available, but is arranged differently. Notably, the abstract is now further down on the page and the links to download a copy of the text are at the top of the record.There is no longer a search history tab. Users will instead need to select the “recent activity” option on the left side of the screen and copy and paste the link in the URL bar. (Though the MyEBSCO account option is a better saving option.)MyEBSCO is a new account feature that allows users to save specific search results as well as searches with any applied filters. Additionally, if you are logged in at the beginning of your session, the MyEBSCO will track your search history in the “recent activity” section of the dashboard.Most helpful features of the new interface?Truly, the MyEBSCO account feature is one of the best improvements to this database group. Setting up an account can be done with your TU email, and it allows you save searches and articles with ease. If you are gathering research on a specific topic, the account feature will also assist you in setting up alerts for new articles. The overall layout of the article results page is sleek and easy to navigate. The option to read articles in HTML format (though not available for all articles) offers some accessibility features like a table of contents, translation features, and the option to download an audio file of the narrated text. Tips and tricks for using EBSCO databases.When choosing search terms, take advantage of the autofill for term variation. This will expand the number of results you receive, ensuring that you are not missing articles that are still relevant to your concept but use a different iteration of the phrasing you intially chose. When you need a term to appear in the main concepts or ideas of the article’s text, you can change the field to “subject term” to ensure that your results do not just briefly mention the term.Do not limit your results to full text only. As a TU student, faculty, or staff member you have access to ILL. You can use this service to get articles for free, preventing you from missing out on valuable sources. If you want to get the most of your research time, begin your searches with broader, all-encompassing terms and then add in more specific terminology to additional fields as needed. Combining search terms strategically is one of the ways that databases can give you better, more reliable information than platforms like Google Scholar. The multi-term searches in combination with database filters provide a robust search with excellent results.Need more help?Consider scheduling a Personalized Research Assistance session with a librarian. One of the knowledgeable staff at McFarlin can guide you through any of the EBSCO databases, or help you navigate the new interface features with ease. ...

Staff Spotlight - Amanda Ferguson

Amanda FergusonUnless you've worked at McFarlin, you might not realize how essential the phrase "I'll ask Amanda" is to our smooth operations. Amanda Ferguson is one of those invaluable staff members. She primarily works behind the scene to ensure our website functions flawlessly. Without its highly accessible website (among other resources), McFarlin would be just a building with books. In addition to being our webmaster, Amanda also serves as one of our ILL associate librarians and is a wizard at finding resources. Enjoy this interview where Amanda shares her favorite aspects of McFarlin and her itinerary for a perfect day.How long have you been at McFarlin and what roles have you had during your tenure?I did my undergrad here at TU and had a work-study at the library. One of the staff members reached out a while after I’d graduated to let me know somebody'd retired and there was an opening. I’ve worked full-time at McFarlin for thirteen years now. I started in the circulation department and moved over to interlibrary loan. I’m also one of the people that work on the library’s website.Why librarianship? What made this career appealing to you?I enjoy getting to interact with people and help with research. I like hearing about new and interesting topics and helping problem-solve. One of the biggest draws to working here though was the staff. I met some amazing people when working on my bachelor's and I knew that it was a team that I would enjoy working with.What is your non-library training and/or degree, and how does it help you as a librarian?I started as an MIS major but eventually decided to switch to a history major. It has helped me learn how to research different areas of study and showed me how there can be multiple approaches to solving a problem.What’s your favorite spot in McFarlin Library and why is it your favorite?There are a few spots in McFarlin that I enjoy, but my favorite at the moment is by the windows in the tech wing. It’s a cozy space to sit with lots of natural light and a great view.Can you tell me about a memorable interaction you have had with a patron? I’ve had quite a few memorable interactions. It is great when you can find that one book or resource that you can tell has made someone’s day. Some of my favorites are from students that have thanked us after finishing their theses or dissertations, but I also really enjoy the look on a student’s face the first time I tell them how many things they’re allowed to check out.What is your favorite media to consume and what makes it your favorite?I usually have a tv on at home, but most of the time it's for the background noise. I would say that I spend most of my time reading. Mysteries of any genre, thrillers and fantasy are my favorites. I also read a lot of fanfiction. I love reading original works with new worlds and characters, but I also love the opportunity to reach beyond canon and read the what-if scenarios that can come from transformative fiction.What’s the best (non-human) resource at McFarlin?The website. You can find information on all our resources and services there including the best ways to reach out to the staff.Tell me the most bizarre thing you have seen while walking through the book stacks.I’ve found students asleep at the tables in the stacks. This wasn’t in the stacks, but I did have a couple of students give me a jump scare in their Halloween costumes back when the learning studio was still the media room.If you could go back in time and talk to one of the designers who modified the building, which phase would you jump to and what would you tell them?Back in time immemorial (pre-2007), we had what was called the Cyber Café. It was on the main level right where the main staircase is. It was a computer lab with a couple of vending machines, a kitchenette, and tables that you could sit and eat at. The computers and vending machines have since been moved and we have Starbucks upstairs now. (It has way better seating, atmosphere, and coffee) I do miss the little kitchenette though...and the carpet. Book carts and tile are not a good combination with the library’s acoustics.You’re trapped in McFarlin for the night: what do you do when no one else is around?Hang out on the browsing floor with my laptop and all the lights on. This building is creepy when it’s empty.What is an exciting project you are currently working on, or a future endeavor you are anticipating?I like getting to add the new library events to the website as they come up. We’re also doing an update of a lot of our written procedures since we migrated to a new system last summer.What is your idea of THE perfect day (where you could go anywhere/meet with anyone)?I’m a bit of a homebody so my perfect day would be at home with the windows open. I’d be playing the newest update to one of my video games or getting to read the next book in one of my favorite series with no interruptions. If I had to pick something outside of the house, then I’d visit a museum I haven’t been to yet or go to a con with some of my favorite actors. ...

Douglass Day 2025

Did you know? Douglass Day helped give rise to Black History Month. It’s why we have Black History Month in February.After Frederick Douglass passed away in 1895, many saw the importance of honoring his memory and activism. In Washington, D.C., a group led by Mary Church Terrell, (an important African American activist, educator, and author) observed Douglass’s birthday every February 14th as “Douglass Day.” Click here for a video history!Douglass Day celebrations began around the turn of the 20th century and helped inspire Black History Month. Though this day of recognition is nothing new, a group at the University of Delaware helped revive Douglass Day in 2017. This became a day when participants around the world logged into the By the People page on the Library of Congress's website to contribute to the transcription of documents. This year these documents were from the African American Perspectives in Print collection. Collaborating with Billy Smith, Director of Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum, and myself, McFarlin Library's Associate Dean, Jill Krefft, led the charge in organizing our participation in this historic event. Promotional materials were sent out, inviting any and all students, professors, and interested community members to join us in this transcribe-a-thon, a cake was ordered to celebrate Frederick Douglass and McFarlin's contribution in the preservation of history.On Friday the 14th, Billy Smith opened our event with a talk on the Eddie Faye Gates Collection, which chronicles the stories of the Tulsa Race Massacre (see more information below), and we tuned into the livestream from the Library Congress to get us all set for a few hours of transcribing. What went right? Nearly 9,000 people in over 180 locations logged into the website, and began to review and transcribe the documents in the African American Perspectives collection. Documents included both print and handwritten materials from the 1700s through the mid 1900s. There were manuscripts, historic newspapers, government memos, and even sheet music. In total 8 people joined us in McFarlin's Learning Studio to hear presenters and transcribe. So, what went wrong? About a hour into the official transcription time, participants - including those at McFarlin - began to see this… Gateway timeout…we “broke” the websiteWith a record number of logins, the Library of Congress's website could not handle the online traffic. Though the site would intermittently come back, participants were encouraged to enlarge images of the documents in the gallery view and transcribe into a Google or Word document so we could paste into the transcription field online at a later time. Did this Douglass Day celebration go as planned? No. But few things do when you're making and preserving history. In the end, there was still cake. And when there are great people working towards a worthy cause and cake, that day cannot be considered awash. Happy 207th Birthday, Frederick Douglass!Wondering how you can connect with local Black History as well? Jana Gowan, Reference and Outreach Librarian at HCAR, invites you to “explore the Eddie Faye Gates Tulsa Race Massacre Collection at Gilcrease Museum. The Eddie Faye Gates collection is an archive of Black history - personal, familial, and communal - created and curated by local hero Eddie Faye Gates, a historian, writer, educator, and activist dedicated to preserving and sharing the truth about the past.”When viewing the items in the collection you will see a contact us link below the description of each item. This is because HCAR relies on community input and information to make this collection more accessible and impactful. So, if you find yourself browsing the collection and see someone, a place, or an item you recognize tell HCAR! If Douglass Day teaches us anything it's the power of crowd-sourced archival work. ...

95 years of Federal Documents at McFarlin

This month McFarlin celebrates its 95th anniversary of being a partner site for the Federal Depository Library Program (aka FDLP). Unlike the general collection in McFarlin Library, the FDLP documents are publicly accessible. To better understand how the program works, I spoke with our FDLP librarian in residence, Rhoen Dellinger, who is currently responsible for helping TU and community patrons access government documents. Rhoen provided background on the Federal Depository Library Program, and McFarlin's role as a depository site.Government resources provide information on health, careers, business opportunities, science, technology, the military and much more. Depository libraries provide the public access to current and historical information, assistance in locating information, educational opportunities, and help to preserve public memory. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established in 1813 to ensure that government information is accessible to the American public via depository libraries throughout the U.S. and its territories. Initially the program was headed by the U.S. Secretary of State and the information was distributed through Congressional journals. Today, the Government Publishing Office oversees the FDLP. The FDLP has been a part of the Government Publishing Office since 1895. McFarlin has been a partial depository since January 10, 1929. Typically, a member of Congress designates a library for entry into the FDLP. From 1979 to mid-2015, McFarlin served as a depository for publications produced by the state of Oklahoma and received via the Oklahoma Publications Clearinghouse unit of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. There are two types of depository libraries, regional and selective. A regional library is responsible for retaining a copy of all government publications received and provides services like interlibrary loans and reference to the selective depository libraries it serves. A selective depository library chooses to receive certain classes of documents from the government that best serve their clientele. McFarlin is a selective depository that serves Oklahoma State University’s Edmond Low Library, which is the regional depository for Oklahoma. Many depository libraries work together to provide people with a variety of resources, both current and historical. Currently, McFarlin is making the transition to a digital depository, which means that government documents must be accessible online. The Government Documents collection at McFarlin is built to support the curricular and research needs of the University’s undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and the greater Tulsa community. This transition ensures that our collection is accessible via several different websites, databases, and the library’s online catalog. With so many options, users can access the collection from anywhere. Changes in information seeking behaviors and the internet have changed the way the FDLP operates. The demand for physical collections is decreasing now that federal agencies are starting to publish public information online. Working with Federal Documents may not sound like the most exciting task for a librarian, but Rhoen does not discredit the importance of her work with the program. In fact, she sees it as a great asset to both the TU and greater Tulsa communities. One of the primary functions of Rhoen's position is to get people interested in government documents and make it easier for them to find these resources. Though many government agencies have dedicated websites to share documentation, minutes, or updates, the depository is more than that. Rhoen explained that “the FDLP makes it easier for people to discover different kinds of governmental assistance and services that are available to them. There are of course things like Congressional Bills, Presidential Papers, and other publications by government agencies as well. The FDLP informs the public while also protects public memory. Each depository has items or collections that are unique and can’t be found at every depository library. Depositories benefit local communities and the public by maintaining records whether they be published today or 100 years ago.”Like me, you may wonder what people are looking for when they access documents from the FDLP. The most common access requests are for historical government documents, many of which are difficult to find through something like a Google search. However, users of the FDLP collections are not just looking for older iterations of a house bill or a state statute, they are also looking for documents on careers, health, and legal or regulatory information. “People can use these documents to get things like unemployment, health insurance, and other kinds of assistance programs,” Rhoen stated. With access to information that can help with research and daily living, it's surprising to me that more people are not taking advantage of this service. Though most FDLP programs are moving to online access, this format can actually present a barrier. For example, people who need information on unemployment may not have consistent internet access, and the map of FDLP locations is only found online. This means that “its entirely possible that people are just unfamiliar with the program altogether. Which is understandable because it’s not really advertised in a way that might interest people.”How can we raise awareness about the excellent resources contained in the FDLP? Well, it starts with information like you'll find in this post. Sharing knowledge of its existence is the first step. And now that you know it exists, check out the new government documents Libguide. The best place to start is the ‘Basic Collection,’ which lists websites that are available for anyone to freely use. Or, just reach out to McFarlin. Librarians like Rhoen are here to help , and don’t want you to be afraid to ask for research assistance or give us your feedback. As I always try to do, I ended my chat with Rhoen by asking for something interesting she has come across while working with the FDLP collection at McFarlin. Though there are a large number of interesting finds in the collection, the most surprising has been items a person may not see as traditional “government documents.” Rhoen said the items that shocked her the most were pop culture related: coloring and activity books, comics, recipes, etc. “I came across a cartoon illustrated by Dr. Suess for the U.S. Army that’s kind of strange. It’s called ‘This is Ann… She drinks blood!’ It follows a mosquito named Ann that has Malaria and explains what can be done to prevent it from spreading.” Like any great librarian, Rhoen shared links to Ann and other interesting finds in the collection. This is Ann...She Drinks Blood! The ABC of Canned Fruit and Vegetable Labeling Oklahoma Peanuts: Best Microwave Recipes Home Fallout Shelter: Snack Bar, Basement Location Plan The Adventures of the Garbage Gremlin ...