Last post we focused on the Barret Library Catalog. This post we will move on to the second search option on the Library and Information Technology homepage – “search for database titles. What is a database, and exactly what is it referring to in a research context? Simply put, a database is a collection of items. These items can be journal articles, newspaper articles, maps, letters, diary entries, images, etc. Barret offers you a variety of databases covering any subject you may study while here at Rhodes. So, the research context of these databases is that they contain material that will be valuable to your research quests.
Your professors may suggest specific databases when assigning projects, or you may be left to discover on your own. If given suggestions, simply type in the name of the database in the search box (be sure you’ve tagged the database search and not the catalog), and you’ll be taken directly to a link for that database. For example, ProQuest will provide links to two ProQuest database collections.
If you have not been given suggestions by your professor, don’t panic. Simply type in a subject term (history, religion, art, education, etc) that best describes your area of interest. A list of suggested databases will appear and you can begin your search.
Searching databases if fast and rewarding. They can be accessed from anywhere that you have Internet access, and they’ve taken a lot of the grunt work out of the research process. Remember, if you have any problems, or would like a run through on using the databases, you can visit any of the information professionals at the Help Desk. We’re always happy to help you succeed!
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