Search alerts can help you keep up when new articles are published on topics you're interested in, or notify you when the full text of a new issue of a journal is available in a database.

Many databases offer search alert services via email or RSS feed. The boxes below show how to create alerts in databases from two major companies, EBSCO and ProQuest, and in Google Scholar. For more information on creating alerts, please contact me or the Info & Research Help Desk.

The first step in creating a search alert in an EBSCO database is to create a search that returns results similar to what you'd like to receive alerts for.

On the page that displays your results list, click on Share on the right above your results. A pop-up will offer either an email alert or an RSS feed.

If you'd like to create an email alert, you'll need to create an account or sign in to your pre-existing account. This will allow you to update and manage your alerts. Adjust the settings to reflect the frequency and style of alerts you'd like, and click on Save Alert.

You can also create a search alert for new issues of journals. Once you've searched for the journal using the Publications link at the top and are viewing the publication information page, click on Share to display alert options. As above, adjust your settings and and save your alert.

To create a search alert in a ProQuest database, first search for the topic you're interested in receiving alerts about.

On your results page, click on the "Save search/alert" link or icon in the upper right.

This will bring up a menu that will allow you to select options to save the link to the search, create an email alert, or create an RSS feed of search results.

Once you select your preferred option, you will see a lightbox that will allow you to customize your alert frequency and content. Once you've made your selections, scroll down and click "Create alert."

As with the other databases, you can begin to create an alert once you've searched for a topic of interest.

On the left side of your results page, you'll see some options for refining your search, followed by the Create alert link.

Little is offered in the way of customizing your alert aside from the number of results you'd like to receive. Once you've adjusted the options and entered your email address, click on Create alert.