Database Review by Library PTS (Part Time Student Librarian) - Using SpringerLink Database to Retrieve Articles

Review by Nur-Afifah Abdul Fatah

Click the image above to access the database

1. Which feature(s) I like the most about the database?

i.    First and foremost, SpringerLink database provides a pretty straightforward method in searching or browsing relevant articles based on the users’ preferences. Users can either search articles by typing specific keywords in the search box or browse them by clicking the related or wanted disciplines of articles as shown on the homepage.

 Articles can be either searched or browsed by provided categories

ii.    Second, in this specific database, the obtained search or browse results can be further refined easily by selecting preferred content types, disciplines and sub-disciplines as well as the languages of the applicable articles.

Easily accessible refiners

iii.    Unlike some other databases, SpringerLink provides a list of references for any available articles at the end of the page of every article, as well as the links for each reference source for the users to explore the picked topics further.

List of references (with links) taken from an article

iv.    Besides that, almost all of the journal articles can be downloaded for offline viewing purposes as long as the user accesses the database via IMU Library website and is logged in as a student of IMU.

Un-tick the "Include Preview-Only content" to easily view downloadable articles

Download PDF" button shows that an article is downloadable

 Full article in PDF 

v.    Finally, in this database, at the very end of the article chosen, there will be further details on the article. A citation of the article based on appropriate format (in this case APA format as it is a Psychology-related article) is provided which allows the users to simply copy and paste the citation into their papers without having to export it using any other software.

Readily available citation of the article according to APA format

2. Has the database benefit you in your learning process?
SpringerLink is one of my most frequently-used databases when writing reports and other assignment papers. SpringerLink is really helpful in the way that it has a very huge sum of articles readily accessible and available for references. Besides that, the citations provided served as a very helpful way in getting myself familiarised with APA referencing format as a Psychology student. As such, I have indeed benefited a lot from this database.

3. Does the database suit you or any other programs and why?
In my opinion, yes, the database does suit me, as well as every other programmes. One of the main reasons of this being that this database offers over 11 million sources from peer-reviewed academic journals, published books and other types of reference sources. These sources cover a very wide spectrum of discipline of studies with an even wider range of sub-disciplines branching from the main fields. Besides that, not only the database is equipped with theoretical aspects of numerous subjects, it also includes past and ongoing researches on related topics which are very insightful. Finally, SpringerLink recommends and adds new books and journals every day in their website, so the content of the database is quite refreshing and not redundant.
 
4. Would you recommend this database to your colleagues and why?
Yes, I would recommend SpringerLink. This is mainly because of the user-friendly and straightforward features that are possessed by this database. Looking up and retrieving articles or any other reference sources are made really easy and quick due to the simple and uncomplicated interface.