In 4 minutes, learn how to:
This video has captions included. It is current as of August 20, 2025, the video's contents are also described below.
This video explains how to use the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Libraries website and its Summon search tool to find research materials and connect with librarians.
Summon is our newest library research tool and is one of the best webpages for finding trustworthy or scholarly sources for your research projects. To get started follow these steps.
Visit the SLCC Libraries homepage.
Locate the “Search Library Materials” section, which uses Summon—a tool that lets users search across many databases at once.
Enter a few important keywords from your research topic or area of interest in the search box, then select “Search”
Recommendations for relevant databases may appear at the top of your search results page if Summon thinks you may want to use a specific database.
You can use filters on the left side to narrow down results by publication date, source type, and language.
If you receive an overwhelming number of search results, add more specific keywords to refine your search.
If searching from off-campus, click the off-campus access message at the top-right to make sure you are logged into SLCC's Library Collections.
Help is available through online chat, text, or email, accessible from the right side of the page.
Links to research guides are available, covering many subjects and containing extra research help from librarians.
Use the “Quick Look” feature to read the abstract (summary) and see if full-text is available.
For sources that do not open directly, try scrolling down to click the “DOI” link.
Permanent link tool provides a direct, stable link to return to the source.
The “Cite” tool (quotation marks icon) lets you choose a citation style and copy the citation for your project. Be sure to double-check citations for errors or updates.
The envelope icon allows you to email yourself the source link or full reference with description.
If you don't want to use Summon to find sources, you can also search our library catalog for books, DVDs, and other physical items.
Use the “Find Physical Items” tab to search the library catalog.
Results include item location, campus information, and options to place holds.
Item details pages show exact location within the library for each physical resource.
Use our research guides to find support for specific fields (like psychology, geography, and exercise science) or use these guides to find support for specific projects. Each guide provides recommended resources and contact information for the corresponding subject librarian.
Our Library hours and campus locations appear on the right side of the homepage (or bottom, if using a phone or tablet).
We encourage you to reach out to a librarian for advice on your research projects! You can contact us through chat, email, text, or even by just stopping into one of our libraries!
