Library Basics

To find information about a particular topic, think of a word or short phrase describing your topic. For example, if you need information about how women participated in the American Civil War, you could use women civil war. Type your phrase into the search box and press Enter on your keyboard.

If you don't get enough results, check your spelling or try a less specific search term.

If you get thousands of results, you can narrow your search results. Click Advanced Search under the search box or look at the left side of the search results page. Popular options for narrowing search results include:

• Select source types under “Limit by Type” to show only books, only magazines, only academic journals, etc.
• Restrict the publication date to more recent items
• View full-text items and exclude items that are not immediately accessible
• Display only articles from peer-reviewed scholarly journals
• Add another search term to make the database look for both terms in a single search

Access to items within Discover GALILEO depends on the type of item.

Physical books and DVDs will generally have a location and call number, like Dahlonega Circulating [2^nd Floor] and E99.C5 J615 2003.

E-books will generally have a PDF Full Text icon or a link that says “Online access” or “Click here to access.”

If you are more comfortable using the GIL-Find catalog, click “See UNG GIL Catalog for More Information” in the Discover GALILEO search result. See Finding Books and Films - Locating, accessing, and checking out items from the GIL-Find catalog for more guidance on books, e-books, DVDs, and streaming films. 

Many items you find in Discover Galileo are available online. Look for a PDF Full Text or HTML Full Text link or a “View record within…” link.

Do you need an article or book that we don't own? You can borrow items from other libraries for free.

To find an item about a particular topic, think of a word or short phrase describing your topic. For example, if you need information about how women participated in the American Civil War, you could use women civil war. Type your phrase into the search box and press Enter on your keyboard.

If you don't get enough results, check your spelling or try a less specific search term.

You can narrow your search results using the "Narrow Search" column on the left side of the screen. To see items that are available electronically, click "Full Access Online." To see items that are located at your local UNG campus library, scroll down to Library and click your campus name.

Physical items like books or DVDs:

If you only want to see items that are physically available in the library, look at the left menu under the heading "Show only" and click "Available in the Library."

Item at Your Local Campus Library

When you see an item you want, click the "Get It" link. If it shows your local campus and "available," you can located the item on the shelf. Write down the entire call number (long set of letters and numbers). The call number helps you find the item on the shelf. Ask a library employee for help if needed. Once you find the item, take it the Information Desk to check the item out. For more details, see Borrowing from UNG.

Item at Another Campus Library

If an item you want is at another UNG campus and it is not checked out, it will be listed as "loanable" and you can request the book. Watch How do you request a book from another campus? for step-by-step instructions

Electronic items like e-books or streaming films:

If you only want to see items that you can read or watch online, look at the left menu under the heading "Show only" and click "Full Access Online."

You may be asked for the Galileo password. To learn this semester's password log into your GIL-Find account, go to your personal settings and click the tab "GALILEO Password." The Galileo password changes each term.

The library catalog cannot help you find articles. You will need to look in our databases if you want to find articles.

Do you need a book that we don't own? You can borrow items from other libraries for free.

You have access to hundreds of databases through the UNG Libraries' GALILEO portal. 

Not sure which database you need?

Browse the list of databases by subject to get ideas for databases to search.

Know the name of the database?

Go to a specific database using the A-Z index. 

Not sure which subject you need?

Try a general database like:

• Academic Search Complete
• ProQuest Central

You can also try searching multiple sources at once with Discover Galileo.

To find an article about a particular topic, think of a word or short phrase describing your topic. For example, if you need information about how women participated in the American Civil War, you could use women civil war. Type your keywords into the search box and press Enter on your keyboard.

If you don't get enough results, check your spelling or try a less specific search term.

If you get several thousand results, you can narrow your search results. The options vary by database, but you can usually:

• Restrict the publication date to more recent articles
• View full-text items and exclude articles that are not immediately accessible
• Display only articles from peer-reviewed scholarly journals
• Add another search term to make the database look for both terms in a single search

Databases generally will not help you find books, e-books, or DVDs. You will need to look in the library catalog if you want to find those.

Do you need an article that we don't own? You can borrow items from other libraries for free. 

Click "Sign In" at the top right corner of GIL-Find. Choose "UNG Students & Faculty" and sign in with your normal UNG username and password. If you are a community member please email accessservices@ung.edu for information about your account.

Once you have signed in, you can request items from other campuses or schools. You can also save searches or items to your e-Shelf to use later. Clicking "My Account" in the top-right corner lets you view/renew items you've checked out, track requests, get the galileo password, and more.

After signing in you are directed to "My Account." If you have conducted searches after signing in simply click "My Account" in the upper right corner.

My Account Tab

Once you have signed in, the left side bar of the "My Account" tab allows you to:

• View "Loans" (items you have checked out)
• Check the status of "Requests" you  made from other UNG campuses or USG schools
• View any "Fine and Fees" you may have accrued
• View any "Blocks and Messages" for your account
• "Personal Settings" allows you to select the display language and the number of results shown on a page. If the contact information for you is incorrect on this page please let a library staff member know. In most cases you will need to initiate the update within your Banner account.

Galileo Password Tab

Select the tab "Galileo password" to view this semester's password. The password changes each semester.  You must be signed in to view the GALILEO password.

Queries Tab

GIL-Find allows you to save search queries and set up alerts to notify you when new results are found from those queries. The queries tab section "This session's queries" provides you a search history of all the recent queries you have made since you signed into GIL-Find.

e-Shelf Tab

GIL-Find allows you to create a bookshelf of saved resources from your search or searches.