Databases and Indexes Online

A Guide to Databases and Indexes Online

What are DATABASES? | WHERE can I access them? | How do I CHOOSE one? | How do I SEARCH?

What are DATABASES?

A Database, according to the American Heritage Collegiate Dictionary, is a collection of data arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval. In libraries, databases are often called electronic resources. The New York Public Library pays for subscriptions to over three hundred databases.

The following describes the different types of databases that you may encounter:

  • Indexes and abstracts, used to index articles in journals, magazines and newspapers), books, conferences proceedings, etc. Some include an abstract which will include a summary of the cited article. Examples: General Science Abstracts, INSPEC, GeoRef
  • Full-text databases which give access to the entire text of articles and documents, for example electronic dictionaries and encyclopedias, but also journals, conferences, market research reports, directories, laws, etc.
  • Combinations of the above, for example an index including both citations to articles and their complete text. Example: EBSCO's Academic Search Premier.

WHERE can I access them?

Most of The Research Libraries' electronic resources can only be accessed on-site at the specific Research Library location.

The New York Public Library’s Branch Libraries make available a large selection of databases, most of which are also available for use at home or other remote location, with a Branch library card. See the following Web site:
http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home

How do I CHOOSE one?

To help you choose a database for your search you have the following options:

  1. Talk to a librarian. He/she can help determine which is the best database for your information needs and can give you an introduction on how to begin searching.
  2. A list of The New York Public Library’s databases is available on the New York Public Library’s Web site. The list is searchable. Go to: http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm
  3. Consider that there are general databases and subject specific databases, you may want to search both types. For example: if you are researching a topic in biology, you may want to search in Academic Search Premier (general index to scholarly literature) and Biology Digest (specific index to citations and abstracts in the field of biology).

How do I SEARCH?

For assistance or instruction in using a database you have the following options:

  1. Speak with a librarian, who will give you a quick introduction to an electronic resource and help you begin searching.
  2. Chat with a librarian through Ask Libraries Online
  3. Attend a Free Public Training Class at the Library
  4. For additional assistance with search strategies or databases, appointments for half hour consultations with a librarian can be made at the Research Libraries.
  5. Check the HELP pages in a database to learn its basic operation and special features.