Database Search Tips

A library database is an online searchable collection of information. Libraries buy subscriptions to databases so learners (like you!) can find useful and interesting information. 

Library databases contain tons of information:

• scholarly peer-reviewed articles
• newspaper articles
• trade publications
• book reviews
• magazine articles
• dissertations/theses

Image Source: UCSanDiego

• The key to being a savvy online searcher is to use common search techniques that you can apply to almost any database, including article databases, online catalogs and even commercial search engines.
• This is important because searching library databases is a bit different from searching Google.
• The techniques described in this section will enable you to quickly retrieve relevant information from the thousands of records in a database.

When you search a database and do not get the results you expect, ask us for advice.  Library staff are happy to help you find what you need.