Conducting a Lit Review in HDFS: Search Alerts

Alerts are available through many of USU's databases, sending you notifications of new publications, topics of interest, or table of contents from a specific journal matching your research interests.

These services automatically send email notifications of new citations and some are offered as RSS feeds. Alert services vary by name (alert, autoalert, saved search history, SDI, etc.), but most operate in the same way.

Here are some basic steps on creating an alert. They may vary depending on the database or publisher.

1. Look for an "alerts" or "email updates" button on the database's home page or publisher's website.
2. Create a free account with the database or publisher.
3. Conduct a search or select a publication title.
4. Request that the search notifies you at the frequency of your choice.

Note: Databases are slower to update than publisher websites, so for the most timely information in your field, you may consider going directly to the publisher's website.

Many databases offer short videos on setting up alert services within their databases.