Using Databases

I'm happy with the information I have gathered so far for the assignment. However, some of it's old and a little out of date! Surely there is more recent information available. Our tutor has mentioned using Databases as a good method for finding subject-specific current information.

PK mentioned that ProQuest is a good database for business and economics, but that there were hundreds of databases available through CrossSearch for searching for material on a whole range of topics. He said that at different times he had asked for help to locate subject-specific databases from the library staff at the Information desk and through the 'AskUs' service.

I had a talk with the librarian at the Service desk and she said that databases do help you find relevant material quickly. She said that they index thousands of journal articles which saves you browsing individual journal titles. Databases contain citations from journal articles, conferences, exhibitions, reports, multimedia items, newspapers, book chapters and books. Increasingly many databases now contain the full text of journal articles; which means less time spent looking for journals on shelves and more time for brainwork (i.e. reading the articles and forming the essay).

The librarian showed me how to access databases - there are two ways, through CrossSearch, or individually through the library catalogue. In CrossSearch she showed me how to look behind the buttons to find information about individual databases and how to start searching.

It was then that she told me about a CrossSearch information skills session which is on tomorrow. She said it would be a very good overview of how to get the most out of using CrossSearch. I told her that I would be there as I was eager to know as much as I could about the tools that will help me find good information for my assignments.

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