EBSCO Environment Complete Tutorial
Environment Complete is an environmental studies database purchased specifically for BLM employees. It is part of EBSCO research databases and contains full-text articles from hundreds of journals covering topics from ecology to public policy. Many of these resources are unique to the Environment Complete database and cannot be found in other EBSCO databases.
Like all other EBSCO databases, Environment Complete uses Boolean operators to focus your searches. For tips on how to use Boolean operators, check out the BLM Library’s Tips for More Effective Searching.
- Navigate to Environment Complete
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Navigate to Environment Complete from the BLM Library databases page. Scroll down to click on the link to EBSCOHost, and then select EBSCOHost Research Databases, which will take you to the “Choose Databases” page. Check the box next to Environment Complete and press “Continue” to search the database.
- Define Your Search
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Define your search by using field codes and Boolean operators as part of an Advanced Search. Using search terms without field codes will automatically generate an all-text keyword search, which is a great place to start. To run a more specific search, click on the “Field Codes” link above the search bar. This will bring up a pop-up menu with options for field codes that will allow you to search for authors, subject heading, DOI numbers, and more. Use Boolean operators to include more than one search term in your search.
- Draw Search Results From More Than One Database
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Draw search results from more than one database at a time by clicking on the “Choose Databases” link above the search bar. This will bring up a pop-up menu that will allow you to select other relevant databases. After you add these databases, your search will draw results from every resource you selected, which is useful if you would like to conduct a broad search.
- Discover New and Relevant Subject Headings
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Discover new and relevant subject headings using the Environmental Thesaurus. You can find the link for the thesaurus on the top left in the blue bar at the head of the search page. Once in the thesaurus, searching for your topic of interest will bring back a results list of related subject headings that are usable in Environment Complete. For the broadest range of relevant headings, select the “Term Contains” or “Relevancy Ranked” options below the search bar. Check the boxes to the left of the linked subject headings and press “Add” to generate a new search using these subject headings in Environment Complete.
- Refine Search Results
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Refine search results by using the filters on left side of the results page. These filters can limit results by date, source type, subject, geography, and more. A dropdown menu at the top right of the page allows you to sort your results by relevance, date, or author name.
- Save your Search Results
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Save your search results using several tools available when you click on the item record. These tools are all available in a bar on the right side of the record page. You can save a record by adding it to Google Drive, printing it, sending it in an email, or exporting it into a file that can be saved on your computer. Another option is to click “Add to folder,” which will save the record, along with any others, in a digital folder located in the blue bar at the top of the page during your EBSCO session. When you have finished searching, open this folder to save all the records at once.
- To Cite Resources
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To cite resources, use the tool bar on the right of the record page. Clicking “Cite” will open a pop-up window with multiple options for citation formats. These citations can be copy-and-pasted or exported to a bibliographic management software. You can also choose to export citations directly from the toolbar by clicking on the “Export” link. This will also allow you to export directly to bibliographic management software, or you can choose to download the citation to Microsoft Excel by selecting the “Download CSV” option.
BLM scientific and technical documents typically use the author-date system described in the Chicago Manual of Style. Legal documents typically follow the Bluebook style.
- Sustainability Watch
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Sustainability Watch is an additional resource available through the BLM Library’s Environment Complete database. It provides access to short summaries of best practices for business and government sustainability initiatives. EBSCO compiles these evidence-based reports by pulling the latest information from thousands of journals and periodicals.
You can access Sustainability Watch using the same method as Environment Complete: Databases - EBSCOHost - EBSCO Research Databases - Sustainability Watch. Checking the box next to the Sustainability Watch entry and clicking "'Continue" will take you to the Sustainability Watch search page. You can use many of the same EBSCO searching strategies described throughout this tutorial to find relevant Sustainability Watch reports.
Since this database draws from a very specific set of reports, simple keyword searches might not bring back any relevant results. It is helpful to browse the “Subjects” list located at the top of the page to find search terms that are relevant to your research topic.
When you have located a Sustainability Watch report that you would like to read, click on the “PDF Full Text” link below the record to view the full report.
Are you ready to test out your new searching skills? Head over to Environment Complete to get started.
Although these tips should yield improved results, it's hard to beat a professional librarian for fast and effective searching. For assistance with identifying and accessing publications, contact the BLM librarians at blm_library@blm.gov.