Watsonline Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the E-Resources Discovery Portal?

The E-Resources Discovery Portal gives patrons the ability to search multiple databases with a single search. For example, instead of searching JSTOR, then Berg Fashion Library, then Project MUSE on their websites, Watson's E-Resources Discovery Portal can search all three from a single search box. Though not exhaustive, the results encompass most of Watson Library's subscription-based electronic databases as well as freely available content across the internet.

How do I use this portal?

Detailed instructions can be found on our instructional handout. This explains in detail the various parts of the E-Resources Discovery Portal.

How do I search for print materials?

This portal is for e-resources. Print materials can be found by searching the library’s main catalog, Watsonline.

Do I need to be onsite to access these resources? Do I need to be a Museum staff member?

Visiting researchers must be onsite to use databases that the library subscribes to or has purchased, though some content is freely available remotely to all users. Our libraries are open to the public and we encourage researchers to visit. Museum staff, interns, fellows, and volunteer tour guides may access content onsite or remotely following authentication. If you are unable to visit and require research assistance, please contact us at watson.library@metmuseum.org.

I am not a Museum staff member and I want to consult freely available content remotely. How do I do this?

After conducting a search, you will see a popup message. Click “Continue as a Guest” to close the popup. Then filter your search results to freely available content by selecting “Open Access” under “Limit To” in the column to the left of the search results.

What E-Resource Databases are not included in this search?

While Watson's E-Resource Search unites a subset of Watson’s available resources, it is not a comprehensive search across all content. Work continues to integrate more resources into this platform. In particular, the E-Resources Discovery Portal may not search within resources that do not specialize in traditional full text content (i.e. ebooks, chapters, journal articles) such as indexes, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and multimedia databases.

For this content, we recommend that you search or browse our full list of electronic databases. You can also consult our list of encyclopedias and dictionaries or our list of indexes and bibliographies .

How do I search for auction catalogs?

The E-Resources Discovery Portal includes some auction catalog results but for more precise results, Watson recommends using our main catalog, Watsonline. For best results, set the dropdown to the left of the search bar to Date of Sale and search by date.

What E-Resource Databases are included in this search?

Please click here to see a full list of our electronic resources.

I know the name of the article I need. What is the best way to find out if you have it?

Click the tab atop the search bar that says “Articles,” set the dropdown to the left of the search bar to “Title” (or leave it at the default selection of “Keyword” if you’d like your search to take information such as the full-text content of the article into account), and run a search for the title of the article.

You can also leave the “All E-Resources” tab selected (this is the default search setting) so that you will see articles in your search results along with other types of content. You can then deselect the filter checkboxes listed in the column to the left of the search results so that only “Articles” is selected.

How do I search the Watson Digital Collections?

The E-Resources Discovery Portal results include content from the Thomas J. Watson Digital Collections , comprised of rare and unique materials digitized from the library’s collections or other departmental collections held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. To find content within the Digital Collections specifically, we recommend that you start your search from the Digital Collections webpage , which may yield results based upon keywords and phrases found within the text of the digitized material.