Unified Search Services
Unified Search Services (e.g. Discovery, federated, etc.) offer simultaneous search to various (subscribed or open) e-resources like digital libraries, bibliographical databases, e-journals & e-books, under the note that access to the digital content is only availble it's open access or subrcribed to.
In this context, alternative search methods and options are provided over NKUA's digital repositories (e.g. Pergamos and e-Pub), individual NKUA subscriptions to bibliographical and full text databases, ebooks and e-journals, as well as corresponding services offered via the Hellenic Academic Libraries Link (HEAL-Link).
The following alternative unified/discovery/frderated services are offered:
VuFind | EDS | Publiction Finder | Summon | A-Z | EBSCOhost | ProQuest | Heal-Link Search | BrowZine και LibKey | Zephyr | Argo
Library's Unified Search Engine (VuFind)
The Library and Information Center of NKUA, within the framework of its participation in the consortium ILSAS+, provides the Academic community with a unified search service in electronic resources (digital collections, books, journals, databases, etc.) using the VuFind software.
VuFind is a FOSS software and implements a "discovery" type search engine, which, using its own index, performs a unified (simultaneous but not federated in real time) search across a multitude of electronic online resources, which are grouped in the manner described below.
"Institutional Resources" tab, which endorses search results from:
- the NKUA Library OPAC catalog
- Pergamos, NKUA's Institutional Repositoy
- NKUA's Electronic journals publishing system (e-Pub)
"Non-Institutional Resources (subscriptions or Open Access)" which endorses search results through the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) tool coming from the resources bellow:
- databases, e-books and e-journals subscriptions directly by NKUA
- HEAL-Link electronic resources (almost all of e-journals, e-books and databases either bibliographic or full text subscribed to by HEAK-Link)
- Open Access electronic resources (databases, books and journals)
Each user can intervene in the search results with a series of filters and tools, as well as expand the search beyond the collections and electronic sources to which access is provided by the University of Athens.
Please note:
- the ability to use personalized services by logging in with an account on the platform requires the user to be registered as a member of the NKUA Library, as it is linked to this account with the corresponding login details,
- searching via EDS is recommended more for searches in the content of articles, books, etc. and not so much at the level of a journal or book title, for which the use of the title search service / alphabetical index of electronic journals/resources is recommended (Publication Finder),
- there may be minor differences in appearance and functionality (mainly in search results via EDS) depending on the display language in the user interface, which are due to the manufacturer,
- the display language (Greek or English) can be changed by the user from the "Language" menu at the top right,
- access to the digital material that may appear in the search results depends on whether there is an active or trial subscription, whether the user is connected via the NKUA network or not, etc.,
- the various electronic resources that are indexed, may different times and frequencies of integration into the service's index.
EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS)
EDS, is EBSCO's "discovery" search engine and service. Using its own index it performs a single search (but not simultaneous in real-time ) in a multitude of online resources including:
- Bibliographic databases, eBooks & eJournals that NKUA subscribes to
- HEAL-Link subscribed e-resources (almost all e-journals, e-books and bibliographic databases)
- Open Access e-resources
Users can intervene in the search results with a range of filters and tools, but also expand the search to collections other than those with granted access.
EDS description and possibilities
Find more about discovery-like search engines on "KnowHow " knowledge base (mostly in Greek).
EBSCO database search
EBSCOhost platform offers simultaneous search, in all EBSCO bibliographic/full-text databases (EBSCOhost Research Databases service), that NKUA has an active subscription or trial access (either directly or via HEAL-Link).
- Users of the platform can persofm searches either on all selected databases or specific ones one demand
- The "American Antiquarian Archives” collection is excluded, since there is a separate search link.
Go to EBSCOhost Research Databases
Publication Finder Service (via EBSCOhost)
This is a navigation and search service (alphabetical Α-Ζ) on e-resources on title level (books and journals) via the EBSCOhost platform, in all periodical publications and books included in bibliographic databases, in collections or individually, that either belong to EBSCO or have been designated as research resources in the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), and are included in NKUA subscriptions directly or via HEAL-Link.
- Search titles using keywords included in the title, subject or ISSN.
BrowZine: a unified service for accessing journals
BrowZine service by Third Iron is an alternative way of accessing online journals accessible via respective agreements with publishers or via databases containing them. (NKUA or HEAL-Link subscriptions.) Search options include searching by subject, title or ISSN.
Browzine acts supplementary to the A-Z e-resources search via Summon, since it includes all journals reported in it.
Connect to Browzine:
https://browzine.com/libraries/2005/
Additionally, the service is offered as an application for smartphones or tablets, bearing the same features mentioned above:
- Install BrowZine application for Android, iOS or Kindle from Google Play Store, Apple App Store or Amazon App Store (if you were using the app via the open access library you must delete it and reinstall it).
- If you are connected to the NKUA network, open the app, select National and Kapodistrian University of Athens from the list of libraries provided and click continue.
- You may now use the app, searching journals by subject, title or ISSN.
ProQuest database search
In the following link you can search (simultaneously or individually) though all e-resources / bibliographic databases by ProQuest, that NKUA has subscriptions.
Multiple, alternative and flexible ways of searching and grouping sources are provided, as well as numerous customization and personalization options. The search system is based on the new ProQuest platform, for which the following are provided:
- online seminars
- rich array of educational material
Heal Link eBooks
Hellenic Academic Library Link has acquired and offers about 15000 eBooks to its members, from a variety of Publishing Houses.
To better manage e-books’ bibliographic records and to support search, the Collective Catalogue work group installed the Koha open source library software. (records available in MARC21 format)
To search and access eBooks in full text, click here (Please NOTE: search available only in English)
HEAL-Link e-resources unified search engine
This service offers simultaneous search on selected online resources by HEAL-Link (journals, eBooks & publishers), through various alternatives and options.
Zephyr
Zephyr offers simultaneous search and access to the Hellenic Academic Libraries OPACs (Online Public Access Catalogues).
For better results, omit punctuation when searching foreign terms (ex instead of ö, just o), in order to get the best possible results.
Argo
The Argo service of the National Documentation Centre (NDC) offers access to bibliographic databases from Greece and abroad.