CSU Libraries > How Do I > Galileo > Using Scirus.com

Using Scirus.com

Scirus.com is an extensive database of journal article abstracts and web pages, mainly in the physical and life sciences. Scirus covers only scholarly and professional literature in the sciences, and has a clean interface. Most Scirus articles, while not full text, come with large abstracts on pages that print easily.

1. To access Scirus either type in its URL: http://www.scirus.com or bring up GALILEO http://galileo.usg.edu. Scirus at its own URL is available to anyone anywhere free of charge. For access through GALILEO: click the Science and Technology tab and choose Science and Technology A-Z. Then select S and then click on Scirus.com.
2. Scirus offers a one box Basic Search, but Advanced Search is more flexible and gives most users more room to spread out and organize a search.
3. Most paper topics contain more than one key word or idea. Your search statement consists of one idea in one box on the left and a second idea in the box below it. For the topic mummified feces, mummies AND feces are the two main ideas. Put mummies in the top box and feces in the bottom. (You could also put feces in the top box and mummies in the bottom and get the same results.)
4. To restrict your search to journal articles only, scroll down to the grey part of the search screen and check off the boxes next to Article, and All Jnl. Also uncheck the box next to All Web Sources. When you are ready to search, click the Search button under the multibox.
5. Scirus presents lists of ten article references with key words in context. Scirus sorts articles in relevance order, so an older article can be at the top of the list. To see the next ten references, click on the tiny next link on the bottom of the page. To move back to the previous ten references, click the tiny previous link.
6. To look at an article's abstract, click on its blue title. Most articles require subscriptions that the library does not have to view their full text.
7. You can search for the full text of any article you find with Scirus in EBSCO and ProQuest on GALILEO, check the library's holdings through GIL, and order interlibrary loans via the library's home page. Interlibrary loan is available to Columbus State University students, faculty, and staff only. Interlibrary loan takes about a week to ten days, so start your research early.
8. To print an article reference, click on your browser's Print icon or choose Print from your browser's File menu.
9. To return to the list of articles, use your browser's Back arrow.
10. To revise your search, either edit what is in the single box near the top of the screen or click on Advanced Search to retrieve the multibox. Note: Scirus squeezes your search into a single statement, and you have to take it apart again to make it work.
11. To leave Scirus.com, click GALILEO's half earth in the top left hand corner of the page, put another URL in the locator bar, click the Home icon, or close your browser.

EHK -- June 2005