Should I search Medline on PubMed or FirstSearch?
It can sometimes come down to personal preferences, but the reference librarians at Gutman Library are highly experienced search experts and we recommend that students use FirstSearch. There are three reasons. First, the advanced search interface allows for much better search strategies. Second, if you do want to visit other area libraries to find your journal articles, the “Libraries That Own This” feature of First Search can be convenient as it will allow you to determine in advance which area libraries have the journal or book you need. Third, if you want to request an ILL, First Search offers an ILL button that makes it convenient to place such requests (for an example see “What are good databases for a PA Course Research Project”).
