Using Databases to Locate Information

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Using Databases to Locate Information
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Do you ever feel like this when searching for
articles on your topic?
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Online Databasesto the rescue!
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What is a Database?

• Documents put together in a single searchable
  location
• Include thousands of
• periodical or magazine articles
• newspaper articles
• articles from encyclopedias
• dictionaries other reference books
• news clips from wire services
• tv radio transcripts
• congressional hearings

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What Should I Know About Databases?

• How do I access these at home?
• Can I get the full article?
• Can I download, email, or print out?
• How do I get information for my Work Cited?

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Please help me find the best database to use
for articles on my research topic.
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Choosing a Database

• On the Library homepage
• Click the link for DATABASES or ARTICLES
• Click the pull-down menu to select a TOPIC or
  database NAME
• Click the navigation bar link to DATABASES

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Steps in the Search Process

• Determine what database topic to look under
• Select a database
• Type in your keywords
• Click on the articles that look good and read
  them
• Save to a disk email to yourself print
  articles out

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Topic Tips

• Searching is a process
• Revise your searches until you are satisfied with
  the results.
• Brainstorm think of similar terms synonyms
• Example
• searching under television or tv will bring back
  different sources of information

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Now What?

• Read the article summaries
• Notice if the article is full-text or abstract
  only
• Check out the suggested headings as another
  source of keywords or synonyms to search under
• Click on the full text link to read the article

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Full Text Articles

• Click on the HTML or PDF format link (displayed
  at the end of the brief article summary) this
  will take you to the article
• Mark or click in the checkbox to select the
  articles you wish to add to a folder.
• You can email/download/print all the articles in
  the folder at the end of your searching.

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Printing Articles

• Use the PRINT options found near the article
  not the browser print icon
• Do a PRINT PREVIEW to double-check the number of
  pages

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What Database Should I Use for Magazine Articles?

• Academic Search Premier (includes scholarly
  journals)
• Electric Library
• SIRS Researcher
• CQ Researcher
• NexisLexis Academic (on-campus only)

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What Database Should I Use for Newspaper
Articles?

• Dallas Morning News
• InfoTrac Newspapers
• Newspaper Source
• LexisNexis (oncampus only)

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Searching Tips Summary

• SELECT a subscription database
• SEARCH the database
• DISPLAY the results
• MARK/select (choose the best articles)
• EXPORT results (download to a disk, print or
  email)

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• Happy Searching!
• Ask a Librarian for Help
• El Centro College Library
• http//www.elcentrocollege.edu/library