Using the Library Databases @ SUNY Delhi :Using the Library Databases @ SUNY Delhi Brought to you by: The Resnick Library SUNY Delhi Narrator: Angela Rhodes Systems and Instruction Librarian Can you hear me?? This presentation has sound! Last Updated 12/06/2008


What’s a Database??? :What’s a Database??? A collection of organized, collected data set up for ease of access. The library databases are collected journal articles, usually specializing in a particular subject or topic. What’s a journal?? AKA: serial, periodical, magazine; any type of material that has a continuous publication over time. Example: Time Magazine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New York Times


What’s a Database??? :What’s a Database??? So if a library database contains collections of journals, what are we searching for? Articles: Small documents that are uniquely published for every issue of a journal. Example: Imagine looking at a print version of Time. Inside, you see small articles with unique titles, usually not related. A database will take each of those unique titles from the entire series, and organize them so that you can find them by keyword, subject, title, author, etc. Each database may contain hundreds of journal titles.


Where are the databases? :Where are the databases? On the Resnick Library Webpage: http://www.delhi.edu/library Delhi Home Page ? Academics ? Library Click on “Find Articles”


Which database do I use??? :Which database do I use??? We have over 25 databases About 35,000 journal titles Search by Subject If you’re not sure where to start, try “General” Each subject area has databases with journal titles relevant to that subject Example: many of our science journals are in the database called “ScienceDirect” Subject Links to Databases Names of Databases In each Subject


How do I search a database? :How do I search a database? Think of key terms rather than phrases Use multiple terms in advanced boxes to narrow your search Narrow down by using limiters Ex: year range (what year the issue would have been released) When viewing your results, you’re looking at the title of the article. Next to it, you should see the author of the article, the journal title it came from, the volume, issue, year, and page numbers (just as if it were from the print version) By clicking on the article title, you should be able to view it if it is available in full text (you may see links underneath the article title that say “HTML Full Text” or “PDF Full Text” that will take you to the full text instead


Example Search :Example Search I’m looking for articles about Bill Gates....but when/what? 2000’s Bill Gates? Xbox, Vista, Empire 1980’s Bill Gates? Pioneer, risk-taker 1970’s Bill Gates? Teenager, law-breaker Let’s try a general database: Academic Search Premier Keyword search: Bill Gates Limiter: 1980-1990


Example Search cont. :Example Search cont. My results: 40 articles from 1980-1990 that had the words “bill gates” anywhere in the article. On the Left margin: narrow by Subject Ex: Chief executive officer narrows my 40 results down to 3 But there’s no HTML or PDF full text for 2 of them…. There IS a 360 Link Article Title Journal Title Full Text Availability


360 Link :360 Link If you find an article you want, but the full text is not available, use the 360 Link or “Link to Full Text” icons next to the article Portal Page will show you other databases (if any) where the article is available in Full Text Ex: Click on the 360 Link for the second article: “A Computer Jock’s $550 Million Dollar Jackpot” Link to other database where available. If not available, use the other steps to obtain it. Click on the article link to go right to the full text. The result is the exact article I was looking for in full text Some databases will only link you to the database at a journal title or general database level. If that is the case you’ll need to re-type your search. Use advanced search, and type in your article title, and narrow by journal title Other database where article is available and the level of linking. Article we Searched for Other options To find Full text We’ve linked to a new database by using 360 Link! Our full text is below.


Shortcuts in Searching Databases :Shortcuts in Searching Databases What if I already know what Journal Title I want, but I don’t know what database will have it? Use the “Search by Journal Title” link under “Find Articles” Browse by first letter of title, or use drop-down box and enter text What if I already have an exact Citation for an Article Title? Use the “Search by Exact Citation” link under Find Articles” Searching is similar to using 360 Link.


Example: Time & Bill Gates :Example: Time & Bill Gates I want to find any articles about Bill Gates that were featured in Time magazine. Let’s use “Search by Journal Title” Click Business & Co. Database link Has best coverage of Time Magazine Journal Title and ISSN Date Range And Data- base


Example: Time and Bill Gates :Example: Time and Bill Gates In the database, perform an advanced search for “Bill Gates” in key terms and limit by the Journal Title “Time” Results will show all articles in Time that relate to Bill Gates. 108 Related Articles, sorted by most recent published.


List of Image Resources Used to Make This Presentation :List of Image Resources Used to Make This Presentation “[Bill Gates 1984 Time Magazine].” 1984. Online Image. Solar Navigator: Bill Gates. 15 March 2008. http://www.solarnavigator.net/sponsorship/sponsorship_images/bill_gates_time_magazine_cover_april_1984.jpg “Bill Gates [1985 on Desk].” 1985. Online Image. Flickr.com. 15 March 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/esparta/187132369/ “[Bill Gates 2005 Time Magazine].” May 2005. Online Image from “I’ll be ready when Sony says its ready.” 16 May 2005. Edge Video Game Culture. 15 March 2008. http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/Time360.jpg “Bill Gates Mug Shot.” Circa 1975. Online Image from “Facts about Bill Gates.” 31 Oct. 2006. Gecko and Fly.com. 15 March 2008. http://www.geckoandfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/gates_mug_shot.jpg Nguyn, Tuan. “[Bill Gates 2006 on Desk].” 15 June 2006. Online Image from “Microsoft Announces Bill Gates's Retirement.” Daily Tech.com. 15 March 2008. http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/1830_billg5_web.jpg Rhodes, Angela. “Angela the Librarian.” 4 April, 2008. Online Image. Yahoo! Avatars. 4 April 2008. http://avatars.yahoo.com/?src=ymy **Library Web Images captured by Angela Rhodes, Resnick Library, SUNY Delhi for the purpose of this presentation.


Wasn’t That Fun? :Wasn’t That Fun? Questions: Ask A Librarian Email: library@delhi.edu Phone: 607-746-4644 IM: resnicklibrary Was this presentation useful? Would you like to comment on it? Give us your feedback! Click on link below to take an evaluation survey. We appreciate your feedback! Click Here For Survey