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Internet Search Engines vs Periodical Databases

Internet and World Wide Web--All material stored on servers throughout the world to which we can connect--material created, owned, distributed by anyone with the capability to do so.

Search Engine--A means of searching a large number--but not all-- of the World Wide Web. Search engines may lead you to the front door of a database.

 

Periodical Database--A collection of articles from journals, magazines and newspapers. A database allows you to search multiple periodicals at the same time.

Internet Search Engines

 

Find out something about anything

Verify information

Search details about dates, events, individuals, organizations

No editorial process filters postings to the Web

Anyone anywhere can post material on the Web

Check multiple sources!

Periodical Databases

 

Coverage may be multidisciplinary or subject-specific

May contain bibliographic citations and/or full-text articles

Created and produced by commercial entities in consultation with librarians and scholars

Are scrutinized by those qualified to judge accuracy and quality of content

Libraries subscribe to or license these databases and make them available to the communities they serve

Examples of Internet Search Engines:

Google www.google.com

Yahoo www.yahoo.com

About.com www.about.com

DejaNews Research Services http:// groups.google.com

ADAM: The Art, Design, Architecture and Media Information gateway http://adam.ac.uk/


Examples of Periodical Databases:

Multidisciplinary Databases

Academic Search Premier


Lexis-Nexis Academic


WorldCat


Subject-Specific Databases

 

ATLA


General Science


Humanities Abstracts

Remember, librarians are happy to work with you to select the best resources for your research.

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