Getting the most out of
e-resources
Overview
Getting the most out of
1. Introducing EPIC
 24 subscription databases from 5 vendors
2. Access EPIC
 Option 1: The TKI Page
 Option 2: EPIC website page
 Set up your own direct links: to specific
databases
 Add search widgets
 Set up your own direct links: to content
within databases
Exercises
e-resources
3. Search EPIC
 General Search Tips
 Search across databases
 Browse subject/topic overviews
 Advanced search options
Exercises
4. Cross-reference from other searches
 Google Scholar
 INNZ
Exercises
5. Additional Information
 Additional teaching resources & tools
 EPIC training & marketing resources for
schools
Exercises
Introducing EPIC
FREE access for all NZ schools to 24 subscription
databases from 5 vendors
fully funded by
Introducing EPIC
FREE access for all NZ schools to 24 subscription
databases from 5 vendors
Download the EPIC e-Resources Guide Brochure for a full list
and description of the all of databases available through EPIC
Click on any of the EPIC
databases product buttons and
login with your School EPIC
login for access
Access EPIC
Option 1: The TKI Page
www.tki.org.nz/epic
Access EPIC
Option 2: EPIC website page
epic.org.nz/n4lschools
Product buttons
provide direct access to
EPIC resources within N4L
networked schools without
needing to use your School
EPIC Login.
If your school is not
networked through the N4L
managed network or you
access the page from
outside of school, you will
be prompted for your
school EPIC login when you
click on a product button
Access EPIC
Set up your own direct links:
to specific databases
epic.org.nz/n4lschools/direct-links
EPIC EZproxy URL spreadsheet
Download the
for a complete list of URLs to copy and
paste to provide direct access to any of the databases available through EPIC.
The spreadsheet also provides EZproxy links for direct access to:
• all the e-books currently available in the Gale Virtual Reference Library EPIC collection
• all the New Zealand newspapers available in the Australia New Zealand Reference Centre
EZproxy URLs will enable all staff and students from your school to access the EPIC resources using the School EPIC logins from
any web enabled device.
If your school is networked through the N4L Managed Network you will be able to use the EZproxy URLs to directly access the
EPIC resources (without having to use your School EPIC logins) from within the school network.
Download instructions to:
Create direct links to EPIC Content
Access EPIC
Add search widgets
epic.org.nz/N4Lschools/direct-links/search-widgets
Search Widgets are search
boxes that can be embedded
on any website so that users
can conduct a search on a
database.
Use the above link to view
working examples & access
links to instructions to set up
your own.
Access EPIC
Set up your own direct links: to content
within databases
epic.org.nz/n4lschools/direct-links
Direct linking tools
EPIC database vendors have different names for their direct linking tools but they all do the same thing –
generate a URL to copy & paste
Permalink
Bookmark
Cite
Cite
Cut & paste URL from the browser
Direct link examples
 Civil Rights Movement – United States pdf ppt
 Earthquakes pdf ppt
 To Kill a Mockingbird pdf ppt
Download instructions to:
Create direct links to EPIC Content
Access EPIC
Exercises
1. Identify if your school is part of the N4L managed network.
2. Create a direct link to an EPIC database (copy & paste into a document) and
access the database using the direct link.
3. Use one of the test search widgets at epic.org.nz/N4Lschools/direct-links/searchwidgets to conduct an EPIC search.
4. Use a direct linking tool to generate a direct link to content that you have
searched for. Copy and paste the direct link into a document, then access the
content using the direct link.
Download instructions to:
Create direct links to EPIC Content
Search EPIC
General database search tips*
Connectors (operators)
Many databases require you to use ‘AND’ between your search
terms if you want all the search terms included in your results eg.
sun AND safety. If you don’t, they may assume it is a phrase
search.
Adding an uppercase AND will work consistently in all databases.
(It will be ignored if it isn’t required)
Phrases / names
Use double quotes around phrases or names, eg “british
isles”. Databases will either require or ignore these quotes.
Some e-resources will also provide specific ‘button’ options
to enter a name or title.
Providing for alternatives
Use an 'OR' between either/or options for the same concept, eg
suv OR 4wd.
An asterisk (*) allows you to search on the stem of words, eg diet*
also covers diets, dietary.
Get it sorted
Many databases default to date order of displayed results. A
Google-like relevance ranking is often more useful to evaluate
searches - look for a ‘sort by’ button.
Plan ‘B’
Get analytical - use topic analysis to systematically try variant
keyword terms on one concept while you keep the other(s)
constant. Try concepts broader in scope only if all likely
alternatives fail.
Take it to the limit(er)s
If an initial search has some useful results, but a lot of irrelevant
ones, try sharpening your search by limiting options such as:
'tabs' (at the top) or ‘facets’ (to the side) of the search results to
select the type of material that best matches your needs reference, scholarly, subject terms…
date or time period drop-down menus or buttons.
Act local
Avoid common words like 'and, or, with, an, the, for, how...' as
these are not usually searchable unless they are part of a phrase.
Look at the search screen options - are there specific database
features or limits offered? If so, do they provide a more precise or
easier way of searching that better meets your needs than the
basic search option?
Go fishing
And if all else fails…
'Fish' for a relevant article through a keyword search, note the
associated subject headings and rerun a basic search using these
headings.
Click on the 'Help' or ‘Search Tips’ link (there always is one!)
Common words
*Pg. 9 Getting the most out of EPIC e-resources
Search EPIC
Search across databases: through your LMS
Contact your LMS supplier to find out more about
options they have to search across databases.
The below LMS vendors provide the following options
that are compatible with EPIC.
Oliver V.5 Federated search option
Access It One Search
Search EPIC
Search across databases – EPIC vendor options
Gale PowerSearch
Search across:
 Academic OneFile
 General OneFile
 Biography In Context
 Science In Context
 Global Issues In Context
 Opposing Viewpoints In Context
 World History In Context
 Discovering Collection
 Student Resources In Context
 Virtual Reference Library
 Educator’s Complete
Gale Artemis Literary Sources
Search across:
 Literature Resource Centre
 LitFinder
Click on any of the product
search buttons and login with
your School EPIC login
EBSCO Explora
EBSCOHost
Search across:
 Australia New Zealand
Reference Centre
 MasterFILE Complete
using an interface developed
especially for school students
Search across:
 Australia New Zealand
Reference Centre
 MasterFILE Complete
using the classic EBSCO interface
Search EPIC
Browse subject/topic overviews
EBSCO Explora
has a wide range
of subject
overviews linked
from the main
access page
Search EPIC
Browse subject/topic overviews
Gale Cengage In Context databases
have a Browse Topic option on the
main access page as well as direct
links to topic overview pages
MARC records for the topic pages
all In Context databases can be
downloaded by going to
http://support.gale.com/marc &
logging in with the following
location ID: per_12
Search EPIC
Browse subject/topic overviews
All 3 levels of Britannica School
provide options to subject browse
by article and media
Search EPIC
Browse subject/topic overviews
New Zealand Geographic
has a subject based Explore
section on the main access
page
Search EPIC
Advanced search options
Oxford Art Online enables you to
limit searched to images
Search EPIC
Advanced search options
Advanced search in Artemis Literary Sources provides
options to search for content on specific works, literary
characters, authors or all of the above.
Search EPIC
Exercises
1. Select one of the Search across databases options. Conduct a search and review
your results.
2. Select a database and explore what subject browse/topic overview options are
available.
3. Select a database and explore the advanced search options
Cross-reference from other searches
Google Scholar
Download the PDF from the following link for instructions on:
How to access EPIC Full Text Journal
Articles through
Cross-reference from other searches
Index New Zealand
Download the PDF from the following link for instructions on:
How to access EPIC Full Text Articles
from an
Index New Zealand
search
Cross-reference from other searches
Exercises
1. Follow the instructions on the final page of How to access EPIC Full Text Journal
Articles through Google Scholar to set up your Google Scholar search results to
show when full text access through EPIC is available.
2. Conduct an Index New Zealand search for an article that is available in full text
through EPIC and use the SFX button to retrieve the article.
Use this link to access a spreadsheet of titles (as at 29 June 2015) that are Indexed in INNZ
& available in full text through EPIC
Additional information
Additional teaching resources & tools: Gale In
Context databases
Gale to Google Path
Login with your Google account and save, edit & share
content from the Gale In Context databases directly into
Google Drive. Use the above link to access instructions
New Zealand Curriculum Standards links
Gale In Context databases have Curriculum Standards links.
You can click on these and drill down to content that is
applicable to the New Zealand Curriculum Standard that
you are working on.
Additional information
Additional teaching resources & tools:
Britannica School
Educators page
There is an Educators page
available on all three levels of
Britannica School. These pages
provide links to New Zealand
curriculum standard, teaching
tools, tutorials and guides
You can also create a My
Britannica account which will
enable you access to more
interactive teaching materials,
save and organise favourites
and create and find lesson plans
Additional information
EPIC Training & Marketing Resources for schools
epic.org.nz/marketing-resources/trainingmarketing-schools
 General EPIC information
Including: how to guides, frequently asked questions and a full list of the resources currently available in the
EPIC subscription on behalf of NZ schools
 Vendor Training & Marketing Resources
Including links to: downloadable promotional material, training resources, title lists and vendor contact
information
 EPIC Logos
Two downloadable versions of the EPIC logo to use for promotional purposes
 EPIC e-Resources Guide Brochures
Downloadable EPIC e-Resources brochures that contain a brief description of each resource, recommended year
levels and curriculum learning areas
Additional information
Exercises
1. Follow the instruction on the Gale to Google Path tip sheet to login to a Gale In
Context database with your Google account. Find a document, edit it and
download to Google Drive.
2. Access the Curriculum Standards section (by using the link in the top, left
toolbar) of a Gale In Context database and browse the New Zealand curriculum
standards
3. Use the My Britannica link (in the top right hand corner on any level of Britannica
School), login (use the following logins – username: EPICschool password: EPICschool or set up your own account
following these instructions) and explore the additional resources available to teachers by
accessing the Educators link (in the top right hand corner).
4. Go to epic.org.nz/marketing-resources/training-marketing-schools to browse the
additional support material available to New Zealand schools.