Integrating Search Widgets into Course Web Sites

What is a Search Box Widget?

Many database vendors have created “cut and paste” code which can be added to a webpage, creating a search box targeting their databases. You may set up single or multiple targets from each vendor. For example, you may wish to have students search a combination of Academic Search Complete and PsycINFO.

If your course involves some type of research assignment, you can recommend and direct students to one or more databases relevant to their topic. The search box widgets bring the databases to “where the students” are, rather than having to negotiate through the library’s pages.

Please note: These search boxes work well in Blackboard.

Here are the various widgets that are currently available to UFV. Check back occassionally to see if any new services are introduced or changes implemented.

Research Databases

• EbscoHost
• ProQuest
• Gale Reference Collection (Gale)
• Oxford English Dictionary
• Oxford Reference Collection (ORC)
• JSTOR
• Sage Journals Online (SJO)
• Sage Knowledge also known as Sage Reference

Library Catalogues

• UFV Library

1. Choose the database(s)
2. Identify the vendor(s)
3. Customize your targets to create your own code
4. Include the library’s OpenAthens redirector
5. Cut and paste the code into your course page