Search alerts allow you to create an alert for a search you perform in a database. When new items that match your search terms are added to the database, you will receive an e-mail or RSS feed notification. This can save time and help keep you up-to-date on research. Instead of going back to the database again and again to do the same search, you will get alerts about new articles that match your search.
While this page focuses on how to set up search alerts in the EBSCO and ProQuest company databases, many other databases offer the option to set up alerts. Look around the database search page for links that may say alerts, search alerts, RSS, or Save search. You may need to create a free account with the database company to access the alerts feature. If you aren’t finding a way to set up alerts in other databases, contact us through Ask a Librarian for help.
To create a search alert, you will first need to do a search in a database. Here are some things to consider before performing your search:
Once you’ve chosen to click either an email or RSS alert link, follow the prompts to finish setting up the alert.
Note:The Library does not have access to these accounts or passwords, so you’ll want to keep track of your account information.
See how to create a search alert by watching this short video.
Search Alerts
(3 min 4 sec) Recorded July 2019 Transcript