What can you use it for?
an overview of featuresThe library offers a large number of databases. Some are general, while others specialize in a specific subject. Through START, you can search almost all of these databases simultaneously.
With START, you can:
- Find all of the library's textbooks and journals.
- Search dozens of databases at the same time.
- Reserve textbooks (via Rotterdam University WorldCat).
- Save search results to your personal account.
- Search in AI mode (natural language search) to orient yourself without having to create complex search queries.
General tips & tricks
for better search resultsBooks and e-books:
- Use autocomplete. As you enter the title of a publication, "Popular searches" and "Publications" will appear in a drop-down menu below the search box. These are based on your input. If you see the title you are looking for appear under Publications, stop typing and select it.
- Too many search results? Use the Source Types filter in the left column to search only for books or e-books.
- Use the Location filter (at the very bottom of the left column) to find books only at Academieplein, Museumpark, etc.
- Borrowed books? Go to External links → My checkouts at the top for an overview of your loans and renewal options.
Scientific articles:
- Advanced search makes it easier to execute complex queries, where you search in specific fields and you can apply various filters.
- With the
button on the top right you can save searches in your personal account.
AI-assisted search:
- With
AI-assisted search you can do a conversation style search and learn what an effective search query looks like (approximately).
- Ask for example: "how does nature improve wellbeing in the city?"
- The AI model Claude Haiku converts your question into a search query with relevant synonyms for your search terms and translates it into English if needed.
- Click 'Show refined search' to see how your query was generated. If needed, you can copy these search terms and operators to use as a basis for your own advanced search.
Important:
- AI search cannot know what the best search query is for your research. Go to the Literature Research Guide or the Literature Search Training to learn how to do this.
- You cannot combine AI search with specific search fields like title, author, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
about searching in STARTWhen you only want to search books, use the Source Type button to filter the search result.
When you select "Peer Reviewed", you only get search results from publications that contain articles that have been reviewed by other scientists.