FAQ
Am I on the PSL institutional website?
No, you are now visiting the PSL-Explore website. The new PSL institutional website is currently in its trial phase. Visit the site at www.univ-psl.fr.
How can I access PSL's online resources?
PSL-Explore search engine results list online resources (periodicals, eBooks and databases) accessible via both PSL umbrella subscriptions and individual member institution subscriptions.
Users can directly access resources available via a PSL umbrella subscription from all member institution campuses. For individual member institution subscriptions however, direct access is available only from the subscribing institution campus.
Some member institutions also offer remote access (off-campus) to their electronic data resources. Contact their libraries for more information on available resources and how to obtain remote access priviledges: the Collège de France, ENS, ENSAD, Mines-ParisTech, the Observatoire de Paris and Université Paris.
To obtain a user ID and password for PSL umbrella resources, send a request to rs[at]univ-psl.fr along with proof of affiliation at a PSL member institution.
How can I carry out a document search using PSL-Explore?
You will find a search bar at the top of all PSL-Explore web pages:
Enter your search terms, document title or key words and click on the search icon (blue magnifying glass) or click Enter on your keyboard. The search engine will display a list of results sorted by degree of relevancy.
How can I find a book via PSL-Explore?
Go to the search bar at the top of the PSL-Explore screen and enter the title you are looking for. Click on the Type of Document list (search engine filter) and choose Books (Livres).
How can I find a periodical via PSL-Explore?
Go to the search bar at the top of the PSL-Explore screen and enter the title of the periodical. Click on the Type of Document list (search engine filter) and choose "Periodicals" (Revues).
How can I find an article via PSL-Explore?
Go to the search bar at the top of the PSL-Explore screen and enter the title and/or the author's name and/or one or more key words - then click on the search icon (blue magnifying glass) or click Enter on your keyboard. Click on the Type of Document list (search engine filter) and choose Articles.
The search engine distinguishes between articles in scholarly journals, press articles (newspapers and magazines) and articles in encyclopedias.
How can I find or share a document reference?
Go to the List of Results page and click on the More Information tab – then click on Actions. Choose from the list of actions:
- Add to My Space in the search engine (limited to the current search session)
- Send via email
- Copy the link to a document
- Export to several citation formats (bibliographic references)
- Export to other websites (EasyBib, EndNote, RefWorks, Delicious)
How can I limit the number of results in my document search?
To limit the number of results, use the list of sort filters displayed on the left-hand side of the Search Results screen:
- Only display (documents, online resources, physical objects …)
- Institution
- Type of Document (book, periodical, article, etc.)
- Subject
- Author
- Date of Publication
- Language
- Database (for articles)
Some filters display a limited number of options – click on More Options for the complete list.
Active filters are displayed at the top of the list of results. You can turn the filter off by clicking on the bleu "X" displayed in the top right-hand side of the screen.
What does "Available in Full Text Format" mean?
It indicates that a full text version of the document is available via at least one PSL member institution – direct access from any PSL member institution campus if it is via a PSL umbrella subscription or at the subscribing member institution campus if it is via an individual institution subscription.
What is knowledge dissemination?
Knowledge sharing and dissemination is one of PSL's core missions. Our initial goal is to provide the community of PSL students, faculty, researchers, and staff with the broadest and deepest access possible to PSL member institution holdings and data. Once we have achieved that goal, we will focus on giving a broader audience and the general public online access to significant publications and reflections by our most promising researchers.
What is PSL-Explore?
PSL-Explore is the Paris Sciences et Lettres digital resource and knowledge sharing portal. It is at once a website that offers users a broad range of content, a gateway to PSL's shared digital resources, a platform for disseminating knowledge produced by PSL and its member institutions, and a powerful and effective research tool thanks to the PSL-Explore search engine.
When I do a document search, what types of documents are taken into consideration?
The PSL-Explore search engine index includes all PSL and member institution library catalogues, archives, digital documents, museum catalogue databases for physical objects, open archives and other digital resources. PSL-Explore searches the PSL index simultaneously with a broad-based third-party index comprised of scientific and scholarly articles, eBook chapters, and open archives.
Data harvesting is an ongoing process that will take several years to complete, given the significant number of databases and archival systems in use at PSL member institutions. As of October 2015, PSL-Explore had completed harvesting of 32 out of 53 identified data sources (over 3 million documents ).