9: Using Library Databases
- Page ID
- 90190
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 9.1: Chapter Scenario
- This page details an assignment for an argumentative essay focused on artificial intelligence, requiring students to gather evidence from a minimum of seven scholarly sources, including journals, magazines, newspapers, and books, with an option for a video. The professor stresses the importance of using library databases over general websites and specifies that MLA formatting must be used for citations.
- 9.2: Library Databases- What’s Inside Them?
- This page emphasizes the significance of library databases for research, highlighting their reliability and security compared to general websites. It points out that library databases offer permanent access to trustworthy resources, overcoming online limitations like restricted views and fluctuating content.
- 9.3: Critical Thinking
- This page explores the differences between using library databases and public websites for research. It highlights instructor concerns about non-library sources found through search engines, prompting readers to assess the merits of both options. The content emphasizes evaluating source credibility, reliability, and accessibility, encouraging critical thinking in academic research.
- 9.4: Choosing a Library Database
- This page discusses the complexity of library databases, highlighting major providers like EBSCO, ProQuest, and Gale that offer diverse resources. It mentions aggregator search tools that simplify cross-database searches while noting that individual database searches may yield better features. The text emphasizes the value of consulting librarians to find the most relevant databases for specific topics, such as artificial intelligence.
- 9.5: Critical Thinking
- This page emphasizes the significance of critical thinking in choosing suitable library databases for research, particularly on artificial intelligence. It encourages evaluating the credibility and relevance of databases, justifying selections, and recognizing which to avoid, ultimately promoting informed decision-making to improve the quality of academic research.
- 9.6: Specialized Library Databases- Videos, Ebooks, and More!
- This page highlights essential databases for accessing scholarly resources, including videos and ebooks. Notable databases include EBSCO, ProQuest, and Gale for articles, along with Films on Demand and Academic Video Online for video content. EBSCO Ebooks and Gale Ebooks provide a range of fiction and non-fiction titles. Additionally, it mentions databases for images, statistics, and social issues, encouraging users to consult librarians for information on available subscriptions.
- 9.7: Scholarly Articles, Magazine Articles, and Newspaper Articles
- This page outlines the characteristics of three types of articles in library databases: scholarly journal articles, which are lengthy and structured, focusing on research; magazine articles, which are shorter and analyze current events; and newspaper articles, the briefest, reporting on current events in simple language. Recognizing these differences is essential for effective research.
- 9.8: You Found Some Resources! Now What?
- This page explains how library databases let users save, download, or email resources, and emphasizes the benefits of creating an account for organization and alerts. Users can also email articles and links with citations if they don't want an account. For downloaded resources, tracking their origins and publication details is recommended for proper citation. It encourages exploring each database's features for effective use.
- 9.9: Preparing to Use a Database- What Do You Need to Find?
- This page provides guidance on locating scholarly journal articles in library databases like EBSCO, ProQuest, and Gale. It highlights the importance of using filters based on assignment requirements, including resource types, publication dates, and citation styles. A scenario illustrates these points through an English assignment on artificial intelligence, showcasing how to effectively source materials. Understanding these guidelines facilitates a more targeted search in library databases.
- 9.10: Full Text? HTML, PDF, and EPUB
- This page emphasizes the significance of choosing the "full text" option in academic resource searches and outlines three formats: HTML, PDF, and EPUB. It highlights the advantages and drawbacks of each format—HTML is easily manipulable, PDF maintains formatting but poses accessibility issues, and EPUB offers device flexibility but needs specific software. Understanding these formats enhances effective resource access and usage.
- 9.11: Critical Thinking
- This page provides guidance on distinguishing between magazine and scholarly articles by examining indicators like citations, author credentials, publication date, and audience. It emphasizes the characteristics of scholarly sources, such as detailed references and expertise, compared to more general magazine articles. Additionally, it advises on the best methods for managing the articles—downloading, emailing, or saving—based on their relevance and future usage.
- 9.12: Conclusion
- This page discusses library databases as curated collections of resources provided by college libraries for academic research, including specific content types like streaming videos and diverse sources such as scholarly journals and newspapers. These databases improve research efficiency and organization, offering students free access to valuable content not easily found online.


