ProQuest Databases

Getting Started with ProQuest

WCIU patrons have access to ProQuest databases via Digital Theological Library 2 (DTL 2). These powerful databases are available on the DTL 2 Databases A–Z page, offering access to a wide range of scholarly and professional materials to support your academic journey.

The ProQuest databases available include:

ProQuest Academic Complete

“Academic Complete provides authoritative, full-text e-books in a wide range of subject areas along with powerful tools to find, use, and manage the information.”

ProQuest Central

“ProQuest Central is the largest single periodical resource available, bringing together complete databases across all major subject areas, including Business, Health and Medical, Language and Literature, Social Sciences, Education, Science and Technology, as well as core titles in the Performing and Visual Arts, History, Religion, Philosophy, and includes thousands of full-text newspapers from around the world.”

ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis Global

“ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) Global is the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses from around the world, offering millions of works from thousands of universities. Each year hundreds of thousands of works are added. Full-text coverage spans from 1743 to the present, with citation coverage dating back to 1637.”

This guide will focus specifically on:

• ProQuest eBook Central – for exploring and managing academic eBooks

• ProQuest One Academic – for a streamlined, all-in-one research experience.

ProQuest eBook Central

ProQuest eBook Central gives you access to thousands of academic eBooks across a wide range of disciplines

In this section, we will cover:

• Supported Devices, Operating Systems (OS), and Browsers

• ProQuest eBook Central Account

• Step by Step instructions on how to use the platform

Supported Devices, Operating Systems (OS), and Browsers

eBook Central is compatible with most modern devices and browsers, making it easy to access your eBooks from wherever you are. Below is a summary of tested and supported platforms:

Laptops & Desktops

• Windows 7 / 10: Latest versions of Edge, Firefox, and Chrome

• Mac OS (latest version): Safari, Firefox, and Chrome

Note: Only the most recent versions of these browsers are fully supported.

Mobile Devices

While ProQuest eBook Central can be accessed on tablets and phones, please note:

• Gestures (e.g., dragging your finger to highlight multiple words) are not supported on mobile.

• The tablet interface is fully optimized.

• The phone interface is optimized for browsing, but the online Reader is not fully supported on phones.

Tested and supported mobile combinations (latest versions only):

• Android Tablets – Chrome

• iPads (iOS tablets) – Safari, Chrome

• Windows Tablets – Internet Explorer (though limited support)

• Android Phones – Chrome

• iPhones – Safari, Chrome

⚠️ Important: Internet Explorer (IE) is not supported on any device.

eBook Central Account

A ProQuest eBook Central account, also also referred to as your bookshelf account is a free account offered by ProQuest eBook Central. This is an account that you would create on your own. It is not necessary to browse the items available in eBook Central however, if you're browsing without first signing in, depending on DTL 2’s settings you may be prompted to sign in once you attempt to:

• Copy

• Print

• Chapter/Page-range Download

• Read a book for more than 5 minutes (only for some books, depending on access model)

You will always be prompted to sign in when you attempt to:

• Full Download

• Annotate or access other bookshelf features

How to create an eBook Central Account

1. Go to eBook Central
   Access it through the DTL 2 Databases A-Z list.

2. Click "Sign In"
   In the top right corner of the eBook Central homepage, click “Sign In.”

3. Choose "Create Account"
   Next to the sign-in form, click the link that says “Create Account.”

4. Fill Out the Form
   Enter your name, email address, and create a password. Make sure you remember the login details — you'll need them to access your personal bookshelf and other features.

5. Agree to Terms and Submit
   Check the box agreeing to ProQuest’s terms and conditions, then click “Create Account.”

Video Tutorial: How to Create a ProQuest eBook Central Account

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How to use eBook Central

ProQuest eBook Central offers a user-friendly platform to explore thousands of academic eBooks. You can browse titles by subject or keyword, read books instantly in your browser, and search within each title for specific terms or topics.

While you don’t need an account to read most books online, creating a free ProQuest eBook Central account allows you to download entire books, highlight text, make notes, and save titles to your personal bookshelf.

When viewing a book, you'll have options to:

• Read Online – access the full text without downloading.

• Download – borrow full eBooks to your device for offline access.

• Copy/Print/Download Sections – use these features within publisher-imposed limits (you may be prompted to log in).

If you’ve used EBSCO’s eBook databases before, navigating ProQuest eBook Central will feel familiar. eBook-focused platforms often share similar features—such as search filters, online reading options, and download tools—so if you know how to use one, you’re already well on your way with another!

For written step by step instructions on how to use ProQuest eBook Central, visit Ebook Central: Patron QuickStart Guide

1. Go to ProQuest One Academic
   Access it through the DTL 2 Databases A-Z list.

2. Click on the person icon
   Located in the top right corner of the page.

3. Choose "Create My Research Account"
   Located right under “Sign into My Research.

4. Fill Out the Form
   Enter your name, email address, and create a password. Make sure you remember the login details — you'll need them to access your personal bookshelf and other features.

5. Agree to Terms and Submit
   Check the box agreeing to ProQuest’s terms and conditions, then click “Create Account.”

For further written instructions, take a look at ProQuest’s LibGuide: ProQuest Platform - My Research

Note: My Research accounts will be permanently closed after three years of inactivity.

Video Tutorial: How to Use ProQuest eBook Central

1. Click on “Thesaurus”
   You’ll usually find this option at the top of the search page or under the “Advanced Search” menu.

1. Search for a Term
   Enter a keyword or phrase to see if there’s an official subject heading for it.

2. Explore Related Terms
   The Thesaurus will show broader, narrower, and related terms to refine your search strategy.

3. Add to Your Search
   Check the box next to the term(s) you want to use, and click “Add to Search” to automatically include it in your query.

How to use ProQuest One Academic

ProQuest One Academic is a powerful research platform that provides access to a wide range of academic resources, including journals, dissertations, newspapers, and multimedia content across multiple disciplines. It is designed to simplify your research by integrating diverse content into a single, easy-to-use interface.

Tips for Effective Searching:

• Use quotation marks for exact phrases (e.g., "climate change").

• Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to combine or exclude terms.

• For more information on how to create a search strategy and effective searching techniques, check out the Guide to Searching.

ProQuest One Academic

ProQuest One Academic brings together four major ProQuest databases into one powerful platform:

• ProQuest Central (journals, magazines, newspapers, and more)

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global

• Academic Video Online

• Academic Complete (eBooks)

This all-in-one platform allows you to explore a wide variety of scholarly resources across disciplines including business, education, health, science, technology, literature, social sciences, and the arts — all in a single search.

The instructions and tools described here also apply to all other ProQuest databases (like ProQuest Central and Dissertations & Theses Global), since they share the same platform and interface.
However, please note that ProQuest eBook Central has its own unique platform and tools, so navigation and access work a bit differently for eBooks.

In this section we will cover:

• My Research Account

• Thesaurus

• Step by step instructions on how to use the platform

My Research Account

Creating a My Research account on the ProQuest platform allows you to save and organize content, keep track of your search history, and export citations with ease. It’s a helpful tool for students working on ongoing research or longer projects, offering a way to store relevant articles, set up alerts, and manage sources across multiple sessions.

With a free account, you can:

• Save articles and videos to view later

• Tag and categorize content into folders

• Set up search alerts to stay updated on new material

• Export citations in multiple styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

• Track your search history and revisit past queries

Please note: Your My Research account is separate from the ProQuest eBook Central account. If you’re using both platforms (ProQuest One Academic and eBook Central), you may need to create a login for each. The two systems do not share credentials or saved content.

Good to know: You do not need a My Research account to download full-text articles. Downloads are freely available to users with access through DTL2.

How to create a My Research Account

ProQuest databases: setting up and using a MyResearch account - UoPInfoLit

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Thesaurus

The Thesaurus is a built-in tool in ProQuest databases that helps you find the best terms to use in your searches. It shows you official subject headings (also known as controlled vocabulary) used to categorize articles and content within the database.

Using the Thesaurus can help you:

• Discover more precise or broader terms related to your topic

• Improve your search results by using the database’s preferred language

• Explore related concepts you might not have considered

Tip: Using Thesaurus terms in your search strategy can help you retrieve more relevant and scholarly articles — especially helpful for building literature reviews or finding sources on complex topics.

How to Use It:

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