What is the difference between 360 Search and SearchWiSE?

360 Search was a good tool for searching across a limited number of databases and returning a manageable number of results, mainly articles. The disadvantage of 360 Search was that a very limited number of databases could be included due to functionality and compatibility. Therefore, its search results were not a true representation of all the information the library provides.

SearchWiSE was developed by the same company, Serials Solutions, as a technological advancement in searching. Instead of searching a number of databases, it searches one unified index of FAU Libraries' many resources. As SearchWiSE includes a vast amount of resources in multiple formats, it is up to the user to refine and critically select the information that best suits his/her needs.

I have too many results. How do I narrow my search?

Search results can be narrowed by Type of Contents, Subject Terms, Publication Date, Location and Language. From the left hand column, choose "More Options" below each of these areas to be able to "include" or "exclude" items in each area.

Put phrases inside quotation marks to search for words in a specific order, i.e., "civil war" or "multicultural education."

Choose "Advanced Search" to limit your search to a specific journal (volume and issue), a specific author, or many other options. For more information on these options and other tips, see Help.

Does everything listed in SearchWiSE include the full text?

Not always. SearchWiSE searches many different sources at once. Although many full text articles are included, some sources may only provide a citation or abstract. Also, the vast majority of books in our collection are only available in print format, and not online.

When I click on "Go" to get the full text of a newspaper article, it does not go directly to the article. What should I do?

When you click on the title (or "Full text" icon) of a chosen article, you will be directed to a menu of the databases that provide access to that article. Usually, the menu will allow you to go directly to the text of the article, but certain newspaper or journal databases will only direct you to the database itself. In this case, you will have to search for the article directly in the database using the citation information such as title, author, date and page.

Should I use SearchWiSE, the catalog, or a database?

SearchWiSE is a good place to start research on a general topic. To find specific formats, you can search the catalog for books, videos, and journal by title, or a database for articles. It is recommended that for subject or discipline specific research, a subject database should be used. See Databases by Subject for the full list of the Libraries' databases by subject, or our subject resource guides ( LibGuides) for suggested databases.

How is SearchWiSE different than searching on the Internet?

SearchWiSE provides direct access to FAU's online library materials and also shows what the Libraries have in print. It is more likely to give useful information for university-level assignments and research. Internet searching pulls up web pages and very few online library materials when compared to SearchWiSE.

Can I use SearchWiSE on my mobile phone?

SearchWiSE is compatible with the following phones: iPhone 2.0+, BlackBerry 8500+ and Android 1.0+.

Will SearchWiSE always look and work the same way?

No. SearchWiSE has only been around for about two years and is still evolving. Already, many libraries worldwide are using this service, and many changes suggested by users have been added. It is expected that further improvements and enhancements are on the immediate horizon. Please email us with any comments or suggestions.