Library

OneSearch is the Brandeis Library's main catalog and database search tool.

• Library Catalog: Your first stop to connect to items that the Library owns or has immediate access to.
• Brandeis and More: Your second stop if you want to broaden your search beyond Brandeis. Request materials from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan.
• Course Reserves: Search for books and films that have been set aside for your courses.
• Archives and Special Collections: Search for rare and unique materials (both physical and digital) held by Brandeis Library.
• Brandeis ScholarWorks: Search for research and creative work created by Brandeis faculty, students, and staff.

Well, not everything.

Looking for scholarly articles? OneSearch searches across many of our scholarly databases, but not all of them. You may want to look in a subject-specific database to dig deeper. Contact our Research Help librarians for help choosing a database.

Looking for Archives and Special Collections (ASC) materials? In addition to the ASC option on the search bar (explained above), you can limit searches to “University Archives” or “Special Collections” materials by selecting those options in the Location filter (this can be found under “Tweak My Results,” on the left side of the page). Many ASC collections have detailed inventories (“finding aids”) which can be accessed from the collection page on OneSearch. Look for this language: “Finding aid (Inventory to this collection).”

If you are interested in browsing digitized ASC materials, you can do so by visiting the ASC Brandeis Distinctive Collections page on OneSearch. In addition, several other digital resources are available via the Archives and Special Collections website.

Please note that while most ASC materials are cataloged in OneSearch, some are not. While more are being added all the time, it is always advisable to contact Reference & Instruction Archivist Chloe Gerson, chloemorseharding@gmail.com if you are not finding what you are looking for.

Yes! From your search results screen, under the heading “Tweak My Results” and the subheading “Availability,” choose “Peer-reviewed Journals.”

Please note that certain types of articles, such as letters to the editor, may not have undergone the process of peer review even if published in a peer-reviewed journal. OneSearch captures whether the journal itself has a peer review process, which does not necessarily indicate whether a specific article has undergone peer review. If you have questions, please contact your subject liaison.

Option A: 

Use the “Find Journals” link at the top of the OneSearch page to search by title or ISSN.

Option B: 

1. Choose the “Library Catalog” search option and click on “Advanced Search.” 
2. Select “Title” from the drop-down menu and type in the name of the journal in the search box. 
3. Under the “Material Type” drop-down, choose “Journals.”
4. Click “Search.”

Next to the words “Available at Main Library Stacks,” you’ll see a string of letters and numbers.  This is the book’s call number. Make a note of it, because you’ll need it to find the book on the library shelves.

You can use the button labeled “Map It” to pull up a floor plan of the Library, which will indicate where you can find the book in the Library building. We recognize it can be difficult to find books by call number, so please know that you can always ask our front desk staff for help in locating a book by call number!

You can also request items for pickup.

You can request the item right from OneSearch. See information on Recall Requests. If you have any questions, contact borrowing@brandeis.edu.

You can place a request for storage materials through OneSearch. Simply search for the item and select "Request Brandeis Copy." Please note that you must be signed in to see this option.

Use our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service to request a copy of the item from another library. More about requesting items through ILL.

Use the link “Request via Interlibrary Loan” to log in to your account and place a request. More about Interlibrary Loan and Scan on Demand.

Click on the “Request chapter or pages” link to place a request with the Library’s Scan on Demand service.  More about Interlibrary Loan and Scan on Demand.

After doing a search, under the heading “Tweak My Results” you will want to make two selections. 

• Under “Resource Type,” choose “Books & EBooks.” 
• Under “Availability,” choose “Available Online.”

Use Advanced Search. Under the heading “Search filters,” choose “Title” or “Author/Creator” in the drop-down menu and type your search terms in the corresponding box.

Can’t find your article? Ask a librarian! Contact borrowing@brandeis.edu with questions.

Use the “Sign In” link to log in to your OneSearch account. Once you have signed in, click on your name and choose “My Loans” to see the items you currently have checked out along with their due dates. If the item is renewable, there will be a link to renew. If the item is not renewable, that will also be noted. You can also see requests you have made, any outstanding fines and fees, and other details associated with your account. Please contact borrowing@brandeis.edu with any specific questions about your library account or the items you have checked out.

Use the “Sign In” link to log into your OneSearch account. In your list of search results, a pushpin icon appears next to each result. Toggle this icon to save or remove items from a list called “My Favorites.” To view “My Favorites,” use the pushpin icon at the top of the screen to see your saved items.

Under the heading  “Send to, select the option for EndNote or EndNote Web, depending on the version you are using.” 

• EndNote: This exports an RIS file to your computer's Downloads folder. RIS files also can be used with other citation management programs.
• EndNote Web: This will open a new tab in your browser where you can import the item into your EndNote Web library. 

To learn more about how to use EndNote, see our EndNote guide.

Use the Zotero connector in your web browser to save items as usual into your Zotero library. To learn more about how to use Zotero, see our Zotero guide.