How do I use Google Scholar?

Ulrike Riedlberger — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:18:06 +0000

The academic search engine Google Scholar presents you articles from e-journals and printed media, both with and without a need to pay for access.
Through the linking service SFX, search results from Google Scholar are linked with licensed electronically available media from the University Library Erlangen-Nürnberg (UB), as well as printed media.

Google Scholar has to be set up and personalized for your use:
Access the subpoint „Settings“ via the menu symbol.
There, click on „Library links“.
Enter „Erlangen“ into the textbox.
Select „Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg SFX@UB_FAU“, then „save“ the selection.

With articles from journals that the library has a license for, clicking the SFX button leads directly to the full text. This also works from home if you’ve identified yourself as a member of FAU via VPN.
With books, clicking the SFX button (which can be hard to find at first) will lead directly to the catalogue of the UB.

What is Google Scholar?

Nora Strauß — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:09:28 +0000

Google Scholar is a search engine which can be used to look up references from scientific literature of multiple disciplines. Its advantages are its large database and an algorithm leading to a useful hit list.

The disadvantages are a poor filtering functionality and a lack of quality assessment regarding the listed items. It is difficult to narrow down search results to a specific academic discipline. The hit list is generated automatically, using formal criteria only.

Google Scholar – University Library Erlangen-Nürnberg

How do I use Google Scholar?

What is Google Scholar?