Complete List of Databases

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What is a database and how can it help me?  Off-campus instructions. Problems? Call (806) 894-9611 x2330 Levelland or x4682 Reese.    

Definition of Database: A database is a collection of information organized and searchable so that you can easily find what you are looking for. An example of a database would be a phone book. It is organized alphabetically by last name or by subject. In libraries, databases are used to find articles and citations.

Libraries subscribe to databases that provide the same information that periodical indexes in print form provide. Databases (believe it or not) actually make research easier. In the past, researches would search for information by first selecting the multi-volume print index they wanted to use and then searching each year's volume to find what was published that year on their subject.

Now indexes can be searched online by entering keywords into a search engine. The search engine then retrieves relevant citations and often times the full text of the article. Searches can often be limited to a specific publication, a set of dates, peer reviewed publications, or a particular language.

Definition of Citation:A citation is a statement that gives researchers the information they need to locate a book, video, or an article. A citation tells you how to find the article, it does not give you the text of the article.

In the following example of a citation, Andrew DuBrock is the author, "3 Ways To Use Your Capo" is the title of the article, and Acoustic Guitar is the title of the publication the article was published in.  If you wanted to read this article, you would first find out if South Plains College Library subscribed to Acoustic Guitar (we do!), then you would locate the May 2008 issue, turn to page 55 and there would be the article. 

Example:
DuBrock, Andrew.  "3 Ways To Use Your Capo."  Acoustic Guitar.  May 2008, p 55-59.