Database Searching

The Health Sciences Library has access to an extensive collection of databases, both biomedical and non-biomedical, which are freely available to active faculty, staff and student members of the Loyola University Health System (LUHS) and the Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM). These databases are accessible in the Library as well as from off-campus, upon registration for off-campus access. In addition the Library offers a mediated search service, wherein users can submit a search request to be performed by a Research and Access Services Librarian; there is no charge for this value-added service.

Occasionally, Library users may have need of information beyond the scope of these databases. In these instances users may request a database search from databases outside of the Library's regular database collection on a pay-per-use basis, with the actual cost of these database searches being passed along to the requestor on a cost-recovery basis. The cost of a database search generally includes charges for connect time, the actual search, and displaying the citations or information retrieved by the searcher.

The minimum charge for a pay-per-use database search is $15.00. If the database provider estimates the cost of the search to be in excess of this amount, the requestor will be notified of the additional cost before the search is completed. Charges are billed to the requestor’s department, for those affiliated with the Loyola University Health System (LUHS) or the Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM); Please provide your account number with your request. Searches that are not chargeable to a Loyola department must be paid by the requestor in advance; Checks should be made payable to Loyola Health Sciences Library.

Questions regarding this policy may be directed to the Associate Director of the Library. Thank you for your cooperation.