Intro to Library Databases

Summary

In this video, Kathryn, a librarian at PCC, introduces students to the concept of library databases. She explains what a database is, its contents, and the benefits of using them for research, such as access to reliable, ad-free, and authoritative information. Kathryn highlights the importance of databases for meeting academic expectations, saving money on expensive journal articles, and utilizing powerful search filters. She also demonstrates how to access and navigate PCC's 108 databases, emphasizing the convenience of 24/7 access with a LancerPoint login. Librarians are available for support, making research efficient and effective.

Takeaways

• 😀 Library databases are collections of organized information designed for easy search and retrieval.
• 😀 Library databases contain various types of content, including articles, ebooks, videos, images, podcasts, and more.
• 😀 Using library databases can help students meet research requirements and improve grades for assignments.
• 😀 Library databases offer exclusive content not available on the open Internet, helping students access valuable resources.
• 😀 As a PCC student, you have free access to over 100 library databases, so you should never pay for an article behind a paywall.
• 😀 Library databases provide reliable, ad-free, and authoritative information, reducing bias compared to commercial websites.
• 😀 Information in library databases goes through an editing process, ensuring credibility and trustworthiness.
• 😀 Library databases have powerful search filters, helping users efficiently find up-to-date and relevant resources.
• 😀 The databases include tools to save and cite sources easily, such as generating citations in MLA or APA style.
• 😀 You can access library databases from anywhere, 24/7, with your LancerPoint login and password, even off-campus.
• 😀 To access PCC's library databases, visit the library homepage, click on the 'Databases' icon, and choose from the 108 available databases.

Q & A

What is a library database?

A library database is a collection of data or information that is organized for rapid search and retrieval. It can contain various types of media, including articles, ebooks, videos, images, and more.

What types of content can be found in library databases?

Library databases primarily contain articles (newspaper, magazine, and scholarly journal articles), ebooks, streaming videos, images, statistics, and other media like radio and podcast recordings.

How can library databases help students with their research?

Library databases help students by providing access to credible, ad-free, and authoritative information. They also allow students to meet instructors' expectations for research papers and projects, helping improve grades.

Why is it important to use library databases instead of open internet sources?

Library databases offer exclusive content not available on the open internet, and the information found there is generally more reliable, less biased, and more authoritative due to a rigorous editorial process.

How can using library databases save money?

Using library databases can save money, especially when accessing expensive scholarly journal articles. As a PCC student, you have free access to over 100 databases, which eliminates the need to pay for articles behind paywalls.

What is the benefit of using scholarly journal articles from library databases?

Scholarly journal articles found in library databases are objective and have undergone an editorial process, making them more credible and trustworthy compared to sources with potential financial or promotional biases.

How can students filter their search results in library databases?

Students can use powerful filters in library databases to limit search results by publication date, source type (e.g., magazine, newspaper, scholarly journal), and other relevant criteria to find the most up-to-date and relevant articles.

What tools are available in library databases to help with saving and citing sources?

Library databases provide handy tools for saving articles to Google Drive or emailing them. They also include citation tools that automatically generate citations in various formats like MLA and APA, making it easy to add them to your Works Cited or References list.

Can students access library databases from off-campus?

Yes, students can access library databases from anywhere, anytime, as long as they have their LancerPoint login and password to verify their student status. The databases are available 24/7.

How can students find library databases at PCC?

To access PCC's library databases, students should visit the library homepage and scroll down to find the red bar with the 'Databases' icon. Clicking this will lead to an alphabetical list of over 100 databases available for use.