Research and Reference Resources

Quick Guide to EBSCOhost Science Reference Center

If you’re in need of information on any science subject, you’ve come to the right place. With Science Reference Center, you’ll find full text articles for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and other sources.

• How do I access Science Reference Center?
• How do I conduct a search?
• Are there examples?
• What's unique about searching Science Reference Center?

How do I access Science Reference Center?

To connect to Science Reference Center, go to the Madison Public Library web page. By choosing Research > Databases > Science Reference Center from the Madison Public Library web page, you will be able to access the database from anywhere. Or, access the database here.

If you are using the database from home, you will need to enter your full library card number without the spaces.

How do I conduct a search?

Searching Science Reference Center is like searching most EBSCOhost databases; choose from Basic, Advanced, and Visual. For detailed information on how that works, visit Searching in EBSCOhost or ask a librarian for assistance.

As with all EBSCO databases, searching can be as simple or as involved as you’d like it to be. For example, try simply typing Planets into the basic search box and you’ll get thousands of results. Looking to the right and left of the center results box, you’ll see ways to effectively narrow your search, restricting by date, type of publication, full text, company, etc.

Are there examples?

Can I find videos about Global Warming?

At the top of the page, in the blue bar, click on Images/Video. Enter Global Warming in search box. Make sure that only the Videos box is checked. Click Search.

Can I get full-text articles about the Hubble telescope published in New Scientist?

At the Advanced Search page, enter hubble telescope in first search box (all text). Under Limit Your Results, check Full Text and enter New Scientist in the Publication box. Click Search.

What is the subject term for jet airplanes? Can I view articles about that subject?

At the top of the page, in the blue bar, click on Subjects. Enter jet airplanes in Browse box. Click Browse. The recommended term Jet Planes will appear in the results list. Click this link.

Now decide which sort (Academic, Periodical, Review, etc.) of references you need and click on that entry.

What’s unique about Science Reference Center?

Once you find an article, you can click on the appropriate icon to Print, Email, Save, or get the correct format for a Citation. Also, look for the Add to Folder icon if you’d like your searches collected in one place. You also have a choice here to Create Notes to store for a future session.