Library Databases allow you to search for citations to articles in popular magazines and scholarly journals. Sometimes these databases have the complete or "full text" of articles as well. Databases cover all sorts of subjects. Databases with broad coverage (e.g. Academic Search Elite) include articles about new trends, opinions, and information for the non-specialist along with more detailed, professional articles.  Databases that are specialized in a certain subject field (e.g. PsycINFO) usually include mostly scholarly, research articles.

Where do you find these databases and indexes?  Libraries purchase them for their users, some in print format which are must be used in the library building itself but most in electronic format so that users can access them over the Web. To figure out what indexes are available online and the subjects they cover look at your library's Web page or ask a librarian in person or by telephone. (Don't worry, you aren't bothering him or her!)

Library databases are one of the best places to find information because:

• you can access many of them through the Web by setting your browser to the KML home-page at www.kml.uindy.edu
  
• they index information which has gone through an editorial review process
• they cover a variety of subjects
• they are structured for finding information more precisely
• they offer citations to the popular magazines and scholarly journals that have articles on your topic

In Module Two you will learn more about choosing and searching library databases. Mastering these skills will make research easier.