What are library databases? 

Library databases (also known as bibliographic databases) are organised collections of information and links to published literature, such as journal or newspaper articles. Items indexed in databases usually include a citation, abstract and often a link to the full-text of the item. Produced by major academic publishers, databases are aligned to specific subject areas, disciplines and even types of sources.

There are databases for journal articles, music, law reports, film/radio & tv output, market research reports, medieval texts and much more. Some databases are freely available on the web, others are paid for by your University.  

There are different types of databases: 

• Full-text – contains the full-text of journal articles etc., often able to download as PDF. 
• Indexing and abstracting – offer details about the item but not the full-text.  
• Audio-visual – allow you to download or stream images, video or sound. 

Advantages of using library databases 

Google, Google Scholar and LibrarySearch are all good places to search for information to inform your assignments but their results span all disciplines and the sheer volume of results can be overwhelming. Using a subject-specific library database can help you to find manageable levels of relevant, scholarly material that is not normally surfaced in tools like Google.

Academic information is a commodity, and often sits behind a paywall. The Library subscribes to subject-specific databases so that you can access information that would otherwise be unavailable or unaffordable to individual users. By using the resources, you have access to a wider base of scholarly literature to use for your assignments.