Staying Current: keeping up-to-date

Databases use alerting features to help you save searches for later reuse. It automates searching the database for the latest records matching your saved searches. The database then sends you updated results for the search by e-mail or RSS feed. 

Search alerts can differ from database to database, but the general principles are similar. Alerts are usually set up from a database Search History or equivalent after the user has signed in using their profile/account details. 

Getting started:

1. Conduct a search using relevant search term/s and limits. 

2. Save the search as an alert. You will be prompted to sign-in or register.

3. Name the alert and select alert option (e.g. email alert).

4. Choose alert notification frequency (e.g. receive weekly or monthly alerts).

As more documents matching your search are added to Scopus, you will receive alerts from Scopus sent to your email.

Setting Scopus search alerts

As more documents matching your search are added to Web of Science, you will receive alerts from Web of Science sent to your email.

Setting Web of Science search alerts

Google scholar alerts and Google alerts are a great tool for research, as you can set an alert so that Google searches the web on a regular topic gathering hits on a topic of interest from a range of sources (including news sources, videos and blogs). 

1. Create a Google account if you do not already have one.
2. Go to Google Alerts.
3. Create Topic alerts: Fill in the search terms for the topic you wish to monitor, and other details in the Create Alert box.
4. Enter your email address.

You can run a number of alerts concurrently, and revisit your Google Alerts account to modify/add/remove alerts.

For advanced Google searching tips, look towards the Advanced Google searching guide.

Setting Google Scholar topic alerts

Search alerts over a broad range of multidisciplinary, social sciences, life and medical sciences, music, architecture, news and history EBSCOhost databases can be created. In 2025 the new EBSCOhost search platform will be adopted and this resource will be replaced with an updated version.

The EBSCO platform is moving to a new user interface on Tuesday 18th February.

If you’ve created an individual profile on the current platform, added items to custom folders, saved search strings or created automated alerts you will need to follow these steps to retain your access after the migration.

This update may impact researchers who have used EBSCO databases to undertake a literature or systematic review or is using EBSCO databases to stay current in their respective fields, especially advanced users.

We encourage anyone who uses EBSCO databases to double check their personal EBSCO accounts and undertake this migration task before 18th February 2025.

For further assistance, please contact your Faculty and Liaison Librarians.

Setting EBSCOhost search alerts

Setting Dimensions email alerts

Setting Overton email alerts