Library

Alerting Services

Areas of study and research are constantly changing as research takes place and new knowledge is gained. Databases and journal publisher websites are constantly updated as new material is published and added.

Alerting and current awareness services enable you to stay up to date with current literature in your subject area.

Setting up Alerts

As all databases and publishers differ, there are many different ways to set up alerts, sometimes making it hard to find the alerting service that you want.

The following tips may be useful if you are having trouble:

• Look for options on the home page such as register, alerts, email updates, my account or look for the RSS logo
• Sometimes alerting services are not offered on the homepage, look for alerting options on the search results page
• See the examples below for examples of setting up alerts

In most cases you will need to register with individual sites in order to set up alerts. Registration is normally free, as it is included in the library's subscription to the database.

La Trobe University Library Catalogue Alerts

Saved Search Query is a function for postgraduates and staff only. The user can create a catalogue search alert which generates email alerts that are sent every Monday and alert you to anything catalogued in the last month that matches your saved search query

To create a Saved Search Query

• Start at the library homepage, select Login to My Library
• Enter your username and password and select Submit
• Run a search using the La Trobe University Library Catalogue
• Select Save Search Query



• To view your Saved Search Queries select My Library
• Then, select Saved Search Queries



• There is a limit of 10 Saved Search Queries, once this has been reached the option no longer appears to Save Search Query. You must Remove Marked Searches before saving more searches

Saved Searches

Saved searches, sometimes called email alerts are a way for you to be notified when new material is made available in your area of study.

Most databases and journal indexes allow you to set up a profile, and register your email address. A search can be saved, and set to run periodically with notifications of new material sent directly to your email address.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Alerts is a service that allows you to register your email address, and select journals of relevance to you. Each time a new issue of these journals is published the table of contents is emailed to you; sometimes before the journal issue is available to the public.

Citation

A Citation Alert notifies you by email when an article of interest is referenced or cited in new publications or articles.

RSS Feeds

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a technology that allows you to subscribe to the contents of multiple websites, and have the updated contents delivered directly to one place: your RSS feed reader. Many websites offer RSS feeds, whether it be for news or updated information on databases.

The advantage of this being that the information is aggregated into one place, a single browser display or desktop application (also referred to as RSS readers, feed aggregators, news readers or search aggregators), saving time, as the user no longer has to visit each website to check for the latest updates.

Feed Readers
To read RSS feeds, you need a software program called a feed reader, also known as a newsreader or an aggregator. There are many readers available in a variety of formats. Some can be accessed using a web browser, others are downloadable applications. All allow you to display and add the RSS feeds you want.

Receiving RSS Feeds
Most modern web browsers have RSS support built in, including Internet Explorer v7, Firefox and Safari.

Locate RSS feeds on databases, journals, news pages and websites by looking for these symbols . You can refer to your browser's instructions on how to subscribe. Software specifically designed as readers or aggregators can also be used, example: FeedReader