Embedded Files
My off-campus login won't work!
My off-campus login won't work!
If you access our databases from off-campus, you'll see a screen that asks you to login with your username (SCID) and password (last 5 digits of your social security number). This should work seemlessly. However, if you see an error message like the one below, please send a HelpDesk ticket to fix the issue.
Q: Why do I need citations and how do I do it?
Q: Why do I need citations and how do I do it?
A: Citing sources is essential because it gives credit to the original creators of ideas, supports your arguments with credible evidence, and helps readers locate the sources you used. It also shows academic honesty by avoiding plagiarism and demonstrates that you’ve engaged thoughtfully with existing research. In short, citations build trust and transparency in your work. They are a must for entering the academic conversation (and earning a good grade on assignments!)
Documentation in academic writing has two key components: in-text citations (or footnotes) and a bibliography, works cited, or reference list at the end. In-text citations or footnotes briefly identify the source of a specific idea, quote, or fact within the body of your paper. The full details for each source are then listed at the end, allowing readers to locate and verify them. What these parts are called—and how they're formatted—depends on the citation style you're using. For example, MLA uses in-text citations and a Works Cited page, APA uses in-text citations and a References page, while Chicago often uses footnotes and a Bibliography. Your professor or discipline typically determines which style to use: MLA for humanities, APA for social sciences, and Chicago for history or other research-intensive fields
In our databases, citations are usually available with just a click. However, sometimes you must build them. Start here:
Purdue OWL: Research and Citation Resources is a great starting point!
Check out Purdue's Citation Chart--a handy place to find examples for all types of situations.
For a citation generator, try ZoteroBib — it’s free, simple, and accurate. Just paste in your source link, choose your style (APA, MLA, Chicago), and you’re good to go. No login required!
Q: What happened to the one search bar that searched everything at once?
Q: What happened to the one search bar that searched everything at once?
A: We understand how convenient it felt to have one search bar for the entire library collection—but in practice, that “all-in-one” search often made research harder, not easier.
While a single search box sounds simple, it actually pulled from many different types of resources at once—books, ebooks, articles, reference entries, and more—without always helping you tell the difference. Results could be overwhelming, and finding exactly what you needed often required advanced search skills, strategic filters, and a lot of scrolling.
Now, instead of one broad search that tries to do everything, we’ve created clear access points to the strongest, most user-friendly tools available—directly through our major database providers like EBSCO, Gale, and JSTOR. Each of these offers a “one search” experience within their collections, meaning you still get broad access—but with tools and features built specifically to support your research journey.
Even better, we now highlight discipline-specific databases that are designed to help you dig deeper into your subject area. These specialized tools are often easier to use, offer more relevant results, and provide research aids like topic overviews, citation tools, and subject browsing to support your learning and growth.
In short: We’ve moved away from a one-size-fits-all search in favor of a more intentional approach that helps you find better sources, faster. It’s a smarter, more empowering way to explore knowledge.
Need help choosing the right starting point? Just ask—we’re here to guide you.
Q: Do I need Google Scholar, or should I only use our library collections (databases)?
Q: Do I need Google Scholar, or should I only use our library collections (databases)?
Google Scholar is a great tool for getting a broad view of what’s been published on a topic—including research that may not be in our library’s databases. It’s perfect for discovery and finding open access articles, but never pay for an article—if you hit a paywall, just contact a librarian and we’ll get it for you, fast and free.
To get the most out of Google Scholar, connect it to our library in your own browser settings:
Go to scholar.google.com
Click the ☰ menu (top left) > Settings > Library Links
Type Southwestern College and check the box next to it
Click Save
This will show links to full-text articles that the library subscribes to—right in your search results.
Questions? Email Emily at emily.hedges@sckans.edu
What AI tool do I use for literature reviews?
What AI tool do I use for literature reviews?
We recommend two powerful AI tools that support academic research: Elicit and Scispace. Both tools are free to use with optional upgrades, and they serve different but complementary roles in the research process. If your needs go beyond what is available through the free platform, come talk to Emily in Deets Library.
Elicit
Elicit
Elicit is an AI-powered research assistant that helps you find and summarize academic papers based on research questions. It’s designed to streamline the literature review process by extracting key insights from relevant articles.
Key Features and Benefits
- Ask research questions and get relevant paper summaries
- Extracts population, intervention, outcomes, and conclusions
- Suggests related research questions
- Organize research into saved projects/workspaces
How to Sign Up
1. Go to https://elicit.com
2. Click “Try Elicit” or “Sign in”
3. Use a Google account to log in
Ethical and Effective Use
- Always read original articles—don’t rely solely on AI summaries
- Verify that papers are peer-reviewed and trustworthy
- Cite original sources, not just AI summaries
- Follow institutional policies for academic integrity
Scispace
Scispace
Scispace is an AI-powered platform that helps you understand complex academic papers by explaining them in simpler language. It’s especially helpful when you’re reading PDFs and need support interpreting dense material.
Key Features and Benefits
- Upload a PDF and ask questions about it
- AI answers based on the document’s content
- Explains difficult terminology and concepts
- Includes citation and reference tools
How to Sign Up
1. Go to https://www.scispace.com
2. Click “Sign up”
3. Use an email address or Google account to log in
Ethical and Effective Use
- Use explanations to support comprehension, not replace reading
- Confirm interpretations by cross-referencing the text
- Credit Scispace if you rely on its explanations
Once I get into JSTOR or EBSCO databases, it asks me to "Log-in", but my SCID doesn't work! Why?
Once I get into JSTOR or EBSCO databases, it asks me to "Log-in", but my SCID doesn't work! Why?
When you see this, don't worry! You already have access to all of the content in the database. This is just asking if you want to create a special account where you can save articles, etc. It is NOT tied to your SCID. Just follow the prompts to take advantage of this organizational offering, but it is purely optional.
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