databases and reference sites

What is A database?

A database is like a digital file cabinet; it organizes a collection of information to make the information searchable and accessible.A collection is any group of information/knowledge sources (books, articles, etc.).  In the case of the subscription databases in the DL, the collections are arranged by source type and/or subject.  For instance, EBSCO has a database of just newspapers and magazines; Grangers World of Poetry only contains information related to poetry.  The Los Angeles Public Library also has databases that are freely accessible. All you need is a LAPL card number and PIN, which you already have as a LAUSD student).

How do I know which database to use? 

What kind of information you are looking for will determine which resources you use. For a general overview, you might use an encyclopedia.  For more in depth research, you might use a content specific database or an academic database like Proquest. 

Each database listed on the Los Angeles Public Library's website has a brief description of the type of information a given database provides. 

LAPL also includes access to vetted websites (websites that have been critically examined and approved by professional scholars and the district).  So don't make your research harder by Googling.  Find appropriate sources via LAPL's databases and vetted websites.