Video: Getting to Article Databases | NC State Libraries

Learn how to access a specific database, databases that focus on a subject area, or that specialize in a particular format.

• Transcript

  The search box on the Libraries home page is a great starting point for many research projects since it searches the contents of many of the databases that the library subscribes to. 

  You should click on the databases link beneath the main search box on the Libraries website, if you know you need to access a specific database or type of source, if you want to search within a disciplinary field, or if you want to do a thorough literature review.

  This will take you to a new page, allowing you to access individual databases. This page gives you four different ways to find a database: you can search, view an alphabetical list, browse by discipline, or select by particular database features.

  If you already know what database you’re looking for, you can search for it by name or browse the alphabetical listing. 

  But most likely, you will want to look at the section with the heading “Browse databases by discipline.”  In this section, you’ll see major discipline categories covering a variety of subjects like Agriculture & Life sciences, Engineering, or Social Sciences. They are organized much like the academic colleges and departments at NC State. 

  Let’s say I want to find articles on environmental justice, which is an environmental policy movement to protect clean air and water, but has a social component, focusing on how the lack of protective policies have affected specific locations and communities.

  In this list of disciplines, I see Natural Resources, which is relevant to environmental health, but since I’m interested in the impacts of environmental policies and their impact on people, let’s go with Social Sciences. 

  Clicking the Social Sciences button shows me a list of subcategories to choose a specific subject area. Selecting Political Science takes me to a list of databases that librarians recommend for this subject.

  At the top are “Key Databases.” I can click “view more” to read a description of the database and access it. Key databases are good starting points for most research topics in that discipline. 

  Below the Key Databases are other databases for related topics. 

  These “related” databases are more niche: they might be perfect for your topic, or they might be too narrow. Be sure to read the descriptions to learn what each database contains. 

  I can also choose a database based on the kind of materials I need.. I can select a filter to see which databases have demographic or census data, images, or primary sources. 

  The librarians who specialize in each discipline are also listed at the bottom of the database pages in case you have questions. 

  That’s how you would choose a database by discipline. But if you need a specific type of source, or have an interdisciplinary topic, you can return to the main databases page and find databases that contain particular formats such as case studies, primary sources, or industry reports. 

  Once I find a database that I like, I can begin searching for resources related to my topic. When searching across multiple databases, you'll notice some overlap in your search results, as certain materials may appear in more than one database. 

  There are too many different databases to describe them all in detail. Even though every database looks a little different, they often have similar features. Look for tools to filter by date or subject, options for emailing articles and citations to yourself, and links to Help pages. These tools usually appear at the top or sides of the database’s website. 

  If you need help finding information or deciding which database might be best for your research, ask a librarian for help!