1. How to use the MIDIRS
Reference Database
Lynn Balmforth
NCT Information Officer and Librarian

2. Tutors‟ access to MIDIRS
Reference Database
• All tutors should have a login
• Don‟t have login details? Call MIDIRS
customer services on 0800 581009 or
email info@midirs.org
• All tutors entitled to free copies of articles,
where available
• No requirement to complete a copyright
declaration by this method

3. Logging on
• From the MIDIRS home
page, above, www.midirs.org, click on Login
• Cannot remember your password? Click on the
“Forgotten Password?” link on the login page.
• When logged in, click on Online Service on right-
hand side of the screen.

4. How to search MIDIRS Reference
Database
There are three basic ways of searching the
Reference Database
• Basic Search
• Advanced Search
• Standard Searches Search

5. Basic Search
• A simple search, using keywords, gives a wide range of
results.
• Results can be sorted by relevance, by date and by article
type.

6. Advanced Search
• Searching can combine specific fields such as author or title
• Use AND or OR for more targeted results

7. Standard Searches
• Pre-prepared literature searches compiled
from a range of resources.
• Search by topic or browse by category
• Select „Standard Searches‟ from the toolbar.

8. Standard Searches
• Choose which search suits your needs the best

9. Standard Searches
• Searching by topic

10. Standard Searches
• Click on title to see contents of search

11. Viewing your results
Each result is presented in a tabbed box:
• „Details‟
• „Abstract‟
• „References
• „Purchase/Save‟

12. Viewing your results
bibliographic „Details‟; „Abstract‟; „References‟ displays citation in
both Harvard and Vancouver; „Purchase/Save‟

13. The Purchase/Save tab
• Click on the Purchase/Save tab:
• Save to a Personal folder
• or „Add to basket‟

14. Personal folders
To save results
• click on Options under the chosen article
• select Your Personal Folders
• you will be prompted to create a folder
• Click on „Add to this folder‟
Personal folders can also be accessed from the
toolbar at the top of the screen.
Create, view and organise folders here.

15. ‘Purchasing’ articles
• When you have found an article you would
like to see, click on „Add to basket‟.
• When ready, click on „Your Basket‟.
• Delete items not required by clicking on
the cross on the right-hand side
• Click „Continue with order‟
• Ignore „Add a voucher code‟

16. Your Basket

17. Other features
• Your recent search history can be viewed on the
left side of your search. Up to ten are displayed –
click on one to view.
• Articles from the MIDIRS Midwifery Digest are
available to download from the Purchase/View tab
• Top 10 Tips for using MIDIRS Online Service can
be found on babble: http://babble.nct.org.uk/info-
resources/library-services/research-
resources/tools-help-your-research