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Time-Saving Tools

Automated Search Alerts

Automating search alerts are an effective and time-efficient method for keeping up on the most current literature in your area of research. This page provides instructions for automating searches across four different platforms: EBSCO, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect.

EBSCO Databases

In EBSCO databases (e.g., EDS, Academic Search Ultimate), you will need to sign into your EBSCO account to save or automate searches.
*Note: EBSCO accounts are free of charge and can be linked to your Google Account. This enables the ability to save full text resources to your Google Drive.

  1. To create an automated search alert, perform a search with your desired keywords.
    *Remember that you can
  2. Select the Share dropdown menu that appears above your results list.
    screen shot of share button in ebsco databases
  3. Select your preferred alert delivery method: email or RSS feed.
  4. Specify your alert parameters.

ProQuest

Though ProQuest does not require that you create an account to automate searches via email or RSS feed, you will need a ProQuest account if you wish to modify, view, or delete your alerts. ProQuest accounts are free of charge.

  1. Perform a keyword search.
    *Note: Use the drop down menus directly following the search fields to narrow your search parameters to abstracts, authors, etc.
  2. Select the Save Search/Alert link below the search field.
  3. Select Create Alert to set up email alerts. (See image below.)
    screen shot of proquest create alert option within the save search link.
  4. Specify your alert parameters.

Google Scholar

Create a Search Term Alert

  1. In Google Scholar, after performing a search, click on the Create Alert option at the bottom of the filtering options on the left side of the screen.
    screenshot of google scholar filtering options. red circle around create alert option for emphasis.
  2. Enter the email address of the account to which alerts should be sent.
  3. Choose between a maximum of 10 or 20 results per alert.
  4. Check your email account for a verification link.

Create an Author Alert

  1. Search for an author.
  2. If the author has a user profile,
    1. Select the profile
    2. Select the blue Follow button
    3. Specify your desired alert types.
  3. If the author does not have a profile,
    1. Select the Create Alert option at the bottom of the left hand column of your results page.
    2. Enter inauthor: into the Alert Query field followed by the author's name as it appears in Google Scholar citations. See image below for example.
      *Note: Enclose the author's name in quotations to ensure an exact match in your results.

screenshot of Google Scholar create alert page. alert query entry field reads inauthor:"sm gustafson". inauthor is typed as one word with no spaces.

ScienceDirect

You will need to have a free personal account with Elsevier to create search alerts in ScienceDirect.

  1. Perform your search
  2. Click Set search alert from the left side of your results
    3. Screenshot of ScienceDirect search results with Set search alert link in results navigation highlight
  3. Give the search a name and select how frequently you would like to receive alerts

Screenshot of ScienceDirect Save Search Alert Window with example name and frequency

You can also setup publication alerts for journals and book series with your Elsevier account.