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WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:
Databases are useful for accessing quality, scholarly sources that are not freely available on the open web. It is important to know how to access databases, so you have access to quality sources provided by the GHC Library.
WHAT TO DO:
WHAT TO DO:
Review the visual aid that defines what a database is.
Answer the self-check questions at the end of this page.
Go to the next page of this module, What is Galileo?
Databases
Databases
What is a database in general?
A database is a collection of online resources, specifically organized to provide information for researchers.
Databases can be found on the open web or behind a paywall. Library databases are academic databases that a college library subscribes to in order to provide students with free access to materials.
Some databases collect materials that would be costly for researchers to purchase on their own and require subscriptions to access their content. Other databases collect open source materials that are freely available to everyone. This means that their content is freely available to the public without fees.
Some databases have a specific focus. For example, Georgia Historic Newspapers is a database that only collects news papers printed in Georgia opposed to ProQuest News & Newspapers which collects news papers from all over the country.
What does a library database contain?
Depending on the type of database it can contain academic articles, news articles, books, videos, or other types of content. Academic database content provides users with high quality resources that are not available on the open web.
Some databases provide access to full-text articles, while others only provide access to indexes or abstracts.
General databases contain materials published on multiple disciplines. Subject specific databases focus on materials published in a specific discipline, such as nursing or American Literature. Note: You will learn more about subject databases later in this module.
How do I access a library database?
To access an academic database provided by the GHC Library, you will need to use the direct links on the GHC Library homepage. If you are off campus, you will also be required to sign in using your GHC ID and password.
For open access databases, you just have to access the website, and you will be able to view the content.
Streaming Platforms & Academic Databases
Streaming Platforms & Academic Databases
How do databases & streaming services compare?
How do databases & streaming services compare?
To better understand an academic database, think about it in comparison to your favorite streaming platform. The example above focuses on Netflix and Academic OneFile, but similar comparisons can be made between any database and any streaming platform. Let's look at Netflix and Academic OneFile a little more closely.
Subscriptions: With Netflix you pay a subscription to gain access to the content. With Academic OneFile, the library pays a fee to provide you with free access to the content. The streaming platforms that you subscribe to are usually only for one person or a small group. When buying access to an academic databases, libraries pay based on the number of people at the institution.
Account Access: With Netflix, you set up an account specific to you. With Academic OneFile, you log in using your college credentials.
Content Breakdown: Netflix and Academic OneFile both have content that can be broken down into different levels. At the highest level you have your streaming platform, Netflix, and your database, Academic OneFile. Netflix is a collection of movies and tv shows while Academic OneFile holds journals and books. In the example above, the series Stranger Things is compared to a journal titled American Music. It is also helpful to compare movies to books at this level. In Netflix, each series will have multiple seasons, just like each journal will have multiple volumes holding content published in different years. At the lowest level of comparison, you have episodes in Netflix and articles in Academic OneFile. In Netflix, once you have settled on Season 2 of Stranger Things, you might select the episode "Will the Wise". In Academic OneFile, you might choose the specific article "Studying the Study of Television, Music, and Sound" in Volume 37 of American Music.
Self Check
Self Check
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