Video credit to University of Minnesota Libraries
What is a database?
Databases are an online collection of searchable information. Library databases contain materials such as:
Why should I use a database?
While Google is a familiar and easy search engine, it is not recommend for academic research. The resources found through a Google search are often only available via a subscription or one-time fee. The resources found in library databases are already paid for by subscription and have been vetted by library staff to ensure their high quality.
Moffett Library currently subscribes to over 150 databases to serve all academic disciplines.
How do I access the databases?
If you have a database already in mind, you can access the databases directly through the A-Z Database List or via our Subject Research Guides.
If you are just starting your research and are unfamiliar with the databases, you may also begin your search via the library catalog.
Choosing the right database for your research topic can be overwhelming. To help narrow down a list of potential databases, we highly suggest you employ search by Subjects tools. See the images below for more information.
Method One: Employ the Subject drop-down list on the A-Z Database page.
Method Two: Select the appropriate Subject Guide.
While most of our databases contain full-text materials, some are solely indexes for various subjects. Indexes contain citations for materials, whose full-text is not available through the database. Listed below are examples of these various types of databases currently available from Moffett Library.
Common Full-Text Databases | Common Index-Only Databases | Common Mixed Databases |
NOTE:
While it may be simple to recognize that MedOne Radiology is a good fit for your radiology paper, not all subjects have easily recognized databases. "Multidisciplinary" databases cover a large cross section of subjects and can provide information materials to many. Below is a quick snippet of the multidisciplinary databases most commonly used.
Database | Contents | Pros | Cons |
Academic Search Complete |
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Nexis Uni |
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ScienceDirect |
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JSTOR |
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Credit to High Point University Libraries for inspiration for this guide (https://guides.highpoint.edu/c.php?g=948995&p=6843530).
Credit to University of California LA Libraries for inspiration for this guide (https://guides.library.ucla.edu/databases/choosing).
Credit to Colby University Library for inspiration for this guide (https://libguides.colby.edu/choosingdatabase).