How to use The Cochrane Library

The following resources will help you navigate and get the most out of The Cochrane Library. For specific information on searching please visit the Search Manual page.

Users please note: The below user guides and presentations will be updated over the coming months, to reflect changes to The Cochrane Library, such as the new website, and the increasing publication frequency of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We thank you for your patience.

What is The Cochrane Library?

View a short PowerPoint Presentation or download a PDF brochure to learn about The Cochrane Library and its benefits and features.

User Guide and Quick Reference Guide

The User Guide provides a detailed overview of The Cochrane Library and easy step-by-step guidance to using The Cochrane Library. Sections include: How to Register; Logging-on; Browse; Performing Basic, Advanced and MeSH Searches; Using Search History; Citation Export; Linking; Navigating Reviews; and Odds Ratio Diagrams.

View or download the User Guide (PDF) in English (updated July 2010). The User Guide (PDF) is also available in: Chinese (simplified, updated April 2007); Chinese (traditional, updated April 2009); French (updated October 2007); Indonesian (updated September 2008); Japanese (updated March 2007); Korean (updated March 2007); Malaysian (updated September 2008); Thai (updated September 2008).

The Quick Reference guide provides a concise overview of the main features and user information for The Cochrane Library.

View or download the Quick Reference Guide in English (PDF; updated July 2010), Japanese (PDF; updated June 2010) Traditional Chinese (PDF; updated June 2010) German (PDF; updated Jan 2011)

Virtual Webinars

Live Online Workshops are available each month on how to make the most of The Cochrane Library. Sessions are conducted using WebEx, an online conferencing system that allows you to view live presentations from your desktop. All you need is an internet connection and access to a telephone. Training is offered completely free of charge and we will provide a toll free number to dial in.

Go to wiley-onlinelibrary.webex.com to view the current schedule.

Online self-paced tutorials

These online tutorials are designed to provide a quick and informative overview and demonstration of The Cochrane Library. There are online tutorials to provide an introduction to The Cochrane Library, provide tips on advanced and MeSH searching, and teach you how to save searches and set up email alerts.

                               

Part 1. The Cochrane Library – an introduction                            Part 2. The Cochrane Library – Searching and MESH

LANGUAGE OPTIONS	MINUTES	AUDIENCE
The Cochrane Library - Farsi	13	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Japanese	12	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Thai	11	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Malaysian	11	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Indonesian	10	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Version Français	6	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Deutsche Version	12	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Italiano	9	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Polski	9	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - em Português	9	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Español	9	All users	Launch Module
The Cochrane Library - Türkçe	9	All users	Launch Module

Database help

There are additional help files available for the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Clinical Trials) and the Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR; Methods Studies).