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What are electronic databases?
Why search databases?
Accessing the Library's databases
Which database to use?
Planning your search
Refining your search
Finding the full text of articles
Saving, printing and e-mailing
Help and training
Printable version
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What are electronic databases?
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A library database is an organised collection of records that
can be accessed electronically.
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Library databases provide a catalogue of journal articles.
Also, some databases may catalogue conference papers, government
reports, reviews and chapters from books.
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These database records usually include the author's name(s),
the article title, the source as either the journal name or
conference details etc. and the subject terms, which are sometimes
called descriptors. Records may also include an abstract or
brief summary of the article. Some databases also include links
to the full text of the journal article.
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There are two different types of library database:-
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Specific subject databases - databases for sociology,
psychology, geography, etc.
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Multi-subject databases - databases covering two
or more subject areas.
Why search databases?
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Journals, which are also known as serials or periodicals, are
an important source of information about recent developments
and new ideas in particular subject areas.
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Details about the contents of journals are not included in
the normal library catalogue.
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Browsing through the extensive collection of journals in the
Library's collection is an inefficient way to search.
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Databases are an effective and efficient way to find journal
articles.
Accessing the Library's databases
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From the Library's home Web page at http://www.utas.edu.au/library
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Click on the Databases link on the left side of the Web page.
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Select your database from within the appropriate Alphabetic
List of databases.
- Then scroll down and
click on its title.
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Most databases can be accessed from any computer, but you will
be asked for your University email name and password to use
the database.
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A few databases are only available in the Library. Where appropriate,
this is noted on the Database page.
Which database to use?
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Suitable databases are listed on the relevant Subject Guide
pages in the "How do I find journal articles" area. Subject
guides are linked to all the Library's Web pages and are also
listed on the Database page.
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Also, please ask a librarian for advice and help using databases.
(See also training below)
Planning your search
Planning your search will help you to search more effectively.
Some steps you may follow include:-
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Defining your topic. Use a subject encyclopaedia or
dictionary to clarify your terms and get an overview of your
topic. Please ask a Reference Librarian how to find suitable
encyclopaedias and dictionaries in the Library's Reference collection.
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Identify keywords or concepts in the topic and also
consider alternative words and spellings.
NB. Remember alternative Australian and American terminology
and spelling. You can always find more words as you search.
Refining your search
Combining search words
Many databases allow you to combine your search words and phrases
with Boolean operators. They will either narrow or broaden your
search.
Boolean operator |
Example |
What it finds |
AND |
bushfires
AND
prevention |
Articles must contain both words.
AND narrows your search and reduces your results. |
OR |
tourism
OR
travel |
Articles may contain either word.
OR widens your search and increases your results. |
Truncation and wildcards
Use truncation and wildcards to find variations of your search
word or variation in the spelling of the word.
Symbol |
Example |
What it finds |
*
(asterisk) |
educat* |
Finds all the different endings of the word.
i.e. educator, educated, educating, education, and educational. |
| ?
(question mark) |
Organi?ation |
Finds both spelling of the word. i.e. organisation
and organization |
Finding the full text of articles
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Some databases provide a link to the complete article (full-text).
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Most databases do not provide links to the full text.
They only provide the bibliographic details and may also
include an abstract.(See
What are electronic databases? above)
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If the full-text is not linked, you must check to see if the
Library holds the source (journal, conference papers, etc.)
of the particular article.
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There are two ways to check for journals:-
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Search the Library's catalogue using the Serial Titles Alphabetical
option, which lists both the paper and electronic journals
in the Library's collection.
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Check the Library's electronic journals collection by clicking
on the E Journals link on the left side of the Library's Web
pages.
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For books, conference papers, reports, etc. check the library
catalogue using the appropriate source name in an All Titles
Alphabetical search.
Saving, printing and e-mailing
Many databases allow records and full-text (when available) to
be downloaded onto a disk or the computer, printed or emailed.
Help and training
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