Discover Your Databases - Activity

Introduction | Prep | Activity

Learn three simple ways to find a new databases (10 minutes)

A library’s database page

Your library’s database page Links to an external site. will list the databases that you have access to.

It will also likely include brief descriptions with key information that helps you distinguish among similar resources.

Use search words that describe the database you want

A library’s database page almost never searches inside databases - it’s more like a library catalog specifically for databases
Think in terms of broad subject areas, time periods, document types, languages or regions

- French OR france

- Human rights

- Patents

- Financial reports

Use the page’s structure to discover databases you might have missed

Is there an option to explore by subject?
Are there recommendations from librarians, like a “best bets” category?
Can you filter?

Research guides

Search for a library research guide on your topic, or on the broader research area or material type that your topic falls under.

Librarians create research guides Links to an external site. to help you identify key resources and search methods for a particular topic. Where a library’s database page usually focuses on licensed resources, a library research guide focuses on what’s most useful for the topic across a broad range of resource types. You will find library-licensed databases, free databases, hard-to-find web portals, top journals, reference books, and other expert recommendations and advice.

Ask a librarian

Most academic librarians have particular subject specialties.

This means that they know a lot of details about the databases in your field, and can help you find a good match for your project. It’s a good idea to ask to be matched with the librarian for your field Links to an external site..

Find the databases you need (10 minutes)

Check for the top databases for your field

Use one of the three search methods above to confirm that you’re aware of the most important databases for your research area.

Use your library’s database page Links to an external site., a library research guide, or meet with a librarian.

For most broad disciplinary areas–literature, history, anthropology, engineering–there are one or two top databases recommended for all researchers in that area. Usually, these are the databases that index scholarship in that discipline.

Explore for a new database relevant to your research project

Using the same three methods, take some time to browse and explore for more unusual databases that might be helpful to you.

There are thousands of databases, many with very specific features and contents. You might find a database that specializes in a particular subfield, material format (like newspapers or correspondence), region, time period, etc.

Familiarize yourself with a new database (15 minutes)

Find a database to explore

Choose a database you want to learn more about.

It could be one of the top recommendations for your discipline, or a database for your specific research project.

Deepen your understanding

Do you know where the advanced search page is?
Can you search by document type, genre, or methodology?
Of your options for accessing a complete list (of authors, titles, subjects, database table of contents, etc.), which is going to be most useful to you?
Are there subcollections or separate components within the database?
What’s the best way to bookmark a page or item from this database?

Hint: your browser bookmarks may not always work! Many databases provide a durable url or permalink for the page, sometimes under a “cite” or “send” menu.

Gather questions for a librarian (5 minutes)

Bring your questions to a librarian. They are here to help!

What special features set databases apart from each other?
What do you like best about this specific database?
Is there something you wish you could do? Ask! e.g. “I wish there was a way to tell how many times an article has been cited. Is there a database that does that?”

You have completed Discover Your Databases. Explore more modules.