Source: VIA Agency, Flickr (edited). Licence.
Tip #1: Some databases give added functionality if you set up a free, database-specific account within them. This is in addition to your regular SIA log-in. You must set up this account within a particular database after logging in with your SIA credentials.
Tip #2: Summon allows searching across many databases at once. The databases A-Z section of this guide tells you how fully the key databases are included in Summon.
Tip #3: Every database should have an advanced search screen, and a help page. There is often an option to contact the database owners for further help, but in the first instance it will be best to contact the SIA librarians.
Tip #4: The same search techniques that work in Summon will often work in individual databases. For more involved searches, you may therefore want to consult our set of guides to Summon. See also the video intro to Summon (4 mins).