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Overview of Databases


page from a telephone directory
A telephone directory is an example of a type of database.		 Since most of your research will be in databases let's look at them a little more closely.


Most databases are organized collections of information. A telephone directory is an example of a database in print form. It is organized alphabetically by last name, and it contains fields for name, address, telephone number, etc. When you want someone's phone number you access the database (phone book) by the person's last name.
Similarly, libraries have databases, although these are usually in electronic or computerized form. Library databases are organized by fields such as title, author, subject, etc. When you want to find something in a library database, you access the database by one or more of these fields to retrieve the information you need.  
library record showing different fields
In order to use databases effectively, it is helpful to be familiar with the following:
  • the structure of a database 
  • types of databases 
  • database coverage 
  • types of searches 

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Adapted with permission from Oasis, San Francisco State University http://oasis.sfsu.edu

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