Closeup: Library Databases

Databases typically have features and tools that can help you in your search. Much like the Jim Dan Hill Library catalog, you may see features around the edges of the search page (on a mobile device, these may be below the search window). These features may be labeled by terms like "genre" or "publication date", or may specify that they are serving as a filter, limiter, or refiner. Most databases also include such features in their "advanced search" window. 

*While each database platform will be somewhat distinct, here are some common terms with explanation: 

• Limit/Limit to/Show Only
  • usually gives you the option to limit to options such as peer reviewed articles, full text, and/or open access materials
• Resource Type / Source Type / Item Type / Document Type /Content Type
  • shows you source formats and gives you a chance to specify what format you would like such as newspaper, magazine, scholarly article,  book, or other media type
• Publication Date / Date Range / 
  • gives you the option to specify dates for sources.  
• Subject
  • shows you the subject terms based on the keywords you put into the search bar and gives you the option to select relevant subjects.
  • hint: if you have identified a resource you find particularly relevant, you can look at the subject terms listed in the catalog record and use any of those as search terms 
• Publisher / Publication
  • shows you who published the sources in the search results list and gives you the option to select specific publications. (These may also be identified as "journals" with a list of journal titles)
• Author
  • lists the authors of the sources in the search results list and gives you the option to select a specific author. 
• Language
  • gives you the option to specify what language the sources are in. 
• Search Within
  • gives you the option to search for a word within the results list. 

*This content excerpted and adapted from "Database Searching", from the SUNY New Paltz Sojourner Truth Library

Especially if you are new to library database searches, they may feel awkward or uncomfortable at first. Unlike search engines or AI, most library databases do not respond to a sentence or a question. Instead, library databases usually search records for very specific terms and parameters provided by the searcher. Having a search strategy can make this simpler and can increase your success! Here are some tips:

(University of Illinois, Scholarly Commons, 2019)