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Lesson Two

Lesson Two. Introduction to Electronic Databases. Definition of a database. What is a database? A database consists of organized pieces of information. These pieces of information are placed into records.

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Lesson Two

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  1. Lesson Two Introduction to Electronic Databases

  2. Definition of a database What is a database? • A database consists of organized pieces of information. These pieces of information are placed into records. • The electronic databases contain magazine and periodical articles, as well as other types of information.

  3. Definition of a database • For example, a file cabinet could be considered a very basic form of a non-digital database. The cabinet contains files (records) that contain filing cards (pieces of information). These pieces of information are placed in some sort of order for easy access. • Within an electronic database, a computer program assists the user in locating requested pieces of data.

  4. Definition of a database • There are many, many different types of electronic databases in the world today, including full-text databases, bibliographic databases, statistical databases, image databases, and others.

  5. Why are electronic databases useful? • Using electronic databases is a very valuable way to conduct research. • Before the advent of electronic databases, research was even more time-consuming and tedious.

  6. Why are electronic databases useful? In the past... • Compiled indexes or printed lists of resources (bibliography listings) would have been used to find an article. • Once an appropriate article citation was found, a print copy of the journal would need to be located. • Once the journal was found, you would have to photocopy the article or make notes about the contents.

  7. Why are electronic databases useful? • Today, with the proper use of an electronic database, full-text articles appear almost instantaneously on your computer screen. • With the advent of the Internet, you may not even need to leave your home to conduct research!

  8. Common traits of electronic databases There are some features that are almost always found in an electronic database. Some of these features include: • A Search Screen • Keyword Searching Capability • Subject Searching Capability • A HELP! Section • A Publications Section

  9. Common traits of electronic databases: Search screen • The search screen is extremely important. This screen allows you to enter information and search the database. • If you had no way of searching the database, you would have to browse through thousands, if not millions, of articles.

  10. Common traits of electronic databases: Search screen • There is always a BASIC or SIMPLE way to search an electronic database. • Usually a word or phrase is entered into a search box in order to search for appropriate articles from the database.

  11. Common Traits of Electronic Databases: Keyword Searching Keyword searching is an option on most databases. What is a keyword? • A keyword is the principal word or words that may be found in the title, abstract, or the text of an article. • The keyword may or may not be the subject of the article. The keyword search is often the default feature of a database. • This means that the keyword search screen will be the first screen that appears when you enter the database.

  12. Common Traits of Electronic Databases: Subject Searching • Subject searching is an advanced (and very helpful) feature of databases. • A subject search will always yield more precise and "on-target" results than a keyword search. • What is a subject? • The subject is the reason or main focus of an article.

  13. Common Traits of Electronic Databases: Subject Searching • In contrast, a keyword search will look for words that are located within the article. These words may not be the main focus of the article. • There is also a subject listing in most databases. • This is an alphabetical listing of subjects used to categorize the articles.

  14. Common Traits of Electronic Databases: HELP! Section • We all need a little help at times. • People who design electronic databases realize this. • That is why all electronic databases have a HELP section.

  15. Common Traits of Electronic Databases: HELP! Section • You may feel awkward using the HELP section, especially if you are the type of person who, when on a road trip, refuses to admit they are lost and need directions. • However, if you do not ask for help when you need it, you may muddle through obtaining too few, too many, or useless results. This can be very frustrating. • Please don't be afraid to consult the HELP screen when necessary. The HELP screen contains useful advice and can help you learn how a particular database works.

  16. Common Traits of Electronic Databases: Publications • All databases have a way for the user to find out which publications (magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.) are part of the database. • The search screen may include a listing of the database's publications, or a way to browse electronically through a particular issue of a publication. • This can be very helpful. Some publication issues may focus on a particular subject or issue. Being able to browse through magazine or journal issues may help you locate suitable articles for your research.

  17. Electronic Database Differences • All databases have unique traits that may be different from database to database. • These may include: • Subject Coverage • The Appearance of the Database Screen • Advanced Database Features

  18. Electronic Database Differences: Subject Coverage • All databases have a particular focus or subject coverage. • Some may focus heavily on business issues, some on health issues, and some cover general reference information. • These databases contain publications heavily geared towards those subject areas.

  19. Electronic Database Differences: Subject Coverage • This is why it is very helpful to know the coverage of a database. Searching in some databases may be more effective than others on particular topics. • Sometimes it is easy to know what can be found in a database by its name; sometimes it is difficult to tell. • For example, Business Source Premier® is a business-related database. • However, it may be difficult to know what the main focus of the MasterFile Premier® database is (a general reference database).

  20. Electronic Database Differences: Subject Coverage • Usually, a description of the database can be easily found on the main screen of the database. • Searching in the appropriate database for your topic is most effective. • To help users to locate the appropriate database(s) for their research, the Library offers an electronic Databases By Subjectpage.

  21. Electronic Database Differences:Database Appearance • The appearance and terminology used by one database may be different from another database. • For example, the ProQuest® screen is primarily green and orange in color. • KYVL®'s screen is blue and gray.

  22. Electronic Database Differences:Database Appearance • Searches may be called by different names. • ProQuest® has a Basic and Advanced Search. • KYVL® has a Keyword and Advanced Search. • The HELP section can help you understand how to use a particular database efficiently and effectively.

  23. Electronic Database Differences: Advanced Features • Databases may offer other advanced features that are an enhanced, unique part of that particular database system. • Some advanced features in electronic databases could include: • Natural language searches • Searching more than one database at a time • E-mailing or saving the results • The option to limit a search to full-text or scholarly journal articles

  24. Electronic Databases atSullivan University • As mentioned earlier, the Sullivan University System Libraries subscribe to a number of electronic databases (over 50!). • Access to the databases is available to you as an online distance education student. • These databases contain full-text and bibliographic information from a variety of sources, on a variety of topics. • Full-text databases provide complete articles. • Bibliographic databases contain citations, usually with abstracts.

  25. Electronic Databases atSullivan University • The electronic databases available from Sullivan University are subscription databases: • This means that the University pays a fee in order to access the databases. • These databases are not available to the general public.

  26. Electronic Databases atSullivan University • The electronic databases differ from resources that you may find on the Web. • Sources from the Web may or may not contain valid information. • However, articles and information found on electronic databases come from valid and reputable sources. • The articles found on electronic databases are the same articles that can be found in print versions.

  27. Electronic Databases atSullivan University • The databases that are available from the Sullivan University System libraries include: • the ProQuest® databases • the EBSCOhost Web® databases • the Kentucky Virtual Library® (KYVL) databases and online catalogs • the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center® database • Hoover's Online® • Mergent Online® • the Culinary Periodicals Index • Cybercinema® • These will be discussed in more detail on the following screens.

  28. Electronic Databases: ProQuest® • The ProQuest® database allow users to search for citations, abstracts, and full-text and full-image articles on a variety of topics.

  29. Electronic Databases: ProQuest® • You have access to 5 ProQuest® databases: • ABI/INFORM Research®:This database is considered one of the best databases for business-related information. ABI/Inform Research® searches business periodicals for articles related to North American business issues, especially in the field of management. Information can be found on advertising, economics, human resources, finances, marketing, computers, and companies. ABI/Inform also includes the Wall Street Journal from 1984 to the present. • Accounting & Tax®: This database is recommended for business students and financial professionals, this database includes abstracts and full-text articles from nearly 300 accounting and tax publications, and additional tax-related topics compiled from thousands of business journals, from 1971 to the present.  • Alt-Press Watch®: This database provides access to articles from alternative and independent press newspapers, magazines, and journals that provide a valuable non-mainstream source of coverage, viewpoints, and perspectives to that of traditional media sources. • Continued on next page…

  30. Electronic Databases: ProQuest® • Career & Technical Education®:This database provides access to articles in vocational and technical periodicals covering all aspects of Vo/Tech education. • Criminal Justice Periodicals Index®:This database's 68 journals provides the most comprehensive electronic resource for students and professionals in the criminal justice field, from 1981 to the present. 

  31. Electronic Databases: EBSCOhost® • EBSCOhost® is an online gateway affording access to over 27 different databases. • The databases include full-text articles, citations with abstracts, and bibliographic citations without abstracts.

  32. Electronic Databases: EBSCOhost® • The databases cover a variety of topics, including: general academic topics, business, health care, mass media, social sciences, and humanities. Some examples of databases include: • Academic Search Premier® • Business Source Premier® • Health Source® • MasterFILE Premier® • MAS Ultra® • Newspaper Source® • Psychology and Behaviorial Sciences Collection® • Religion and Philosophy Collection® • Funk and Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia® • And other databases

  33. Electronic Databases:Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL)® • The Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL)®, a statewide library consortium of Kentucky, offers a wide range of full-text magazine, journal, and newspaper databases.

  34. Electronic Databases:Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL)® • Over 40 databases are accessible through KYVL®. The user also has access to: • online library catalogs • government information • a digital library • an information skills tutorial • a "virtual reference desk"

  35. Electronic Databases:Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center® (OVRC) • The Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center® (OVRC) is a comprehensive, full-text database providing differing points of view on current social issues, such as affirmative action, censorship, ecology and mental health. • OVRC provides information and commentary on a wide array of topics.

  36. Electronic Databases:Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center® (OVRC) • Information may include: • Essays offering different points of view from more than 170 titles of the print Opposing Viewpoints and other Greenhaven series • Government data, court cases, and statistics • Organizational profiles • Newspaper and magazine articles • Links to subject-related web sites

  37. Electronic Databases:Hoover's Online® and Mergent Online® • Two other business-related databases that are accessible to you are Hoover's Online® and Mergent Online®. • Hoover's Online® is a database that provides company and stock market information on over 12 million businesses. In-depth coverage can be found on over 40,000 companies and enterprises. • Morningstar provides access to stock and mutual fund reports, as well as other financial information. It also features the Morningstar ratings and analysis.

  38. Electronic Databases:Culinary Periodicals Index (CPI) and Cybercinema® • In addition to the other databases, there are two other unique databases of interest to culinary and hospitality students. • These are the Culinary Periodicals Index (CPI) and Cybercinema®.

  39. Electronic Databases:Culinary Periodicals Index (CPI) and Cybercinema® • The Culinary Periodicals Index (CPI) is a "homegrown" database, created by the Sullivan University Louisville librarians. CPI contains citations and abstracts to culinary magazines that the library subscribes to. Consequently, CPI is not a full-text database but rather a finding list to articles in culinary periodicals found in the Sullivan University Library's collection. • The culinary magazines can be found in hard copy at the Sullivan University Library. • The CPI is searchable by subject and keyword. • Another component found in the CPI is the audio Pronunciation Guide to French Culinary Terms. • Cybercinema® provides access to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute streaming video library on a range of subjects from housekeeping to maintenance and engineering. The videos are available on the Web using Windows Media Player and some can be viewed in languages other than English.

  40. How to Access Electronic Databases • As a Sullivan University student, you have database privileges. • All of the electronic databases can be accessed ("gotten to") both on- and off-campus. • All that is needed is a computer that is "hooked up" to the Internet and knowledge on how to navigate to the electronic databases. • The following screens provide directions on how to access the databases from on- or off-campus.

  41. How to Access Electronic Databases:On-Campus • All of the databases can be accessed easily by using a computer workstation at any of the Sullivan University campuses.

  42. How to Access Electronic Databases:On-Campus To go to a database: • Go to the library's web page (http://library.sullivan.edu) • Place the mouse cursor on the DATABASES tab. A drop-down menu will open. • Scroll down to ON CAMPUS ACCESS. Another drop-down menu will open. • Scroll to the database that you wish to open. • Click on SEARCH, and the first screen of the database will open.

  43. How to Access Electronic Databases:Off-Campus • Students can also access the databases remotely (at another location other than a Sullivan University campus).

  44. How to Access Electronic Databases:Off-Campus • NOTE: We have had a number of users reporting problems when using the America Online (AOL) browser screen. If you are using AOL, you will need to switch your browser screen to the Microsoft Internet Explorer (Microsoft IE) browser. To go to Microsoft IE, minimize the AOL browser and look for the icon to Microsoft IE on your desktop (it will be a big, blue E). If not on your desktop , go to the START menu, then PROGRAMS to find.

  45. How to Access Electronic Databases:Off-Campus • To go to a database off-campus: • Go to the library's web page (http://library.sullivan.edu) • Place the mouse cursor on the DATABASES tab. A drop-down menu will open. • Click OFF CAMPUS ACCESS. The REMOTE ACCESS PAGE will open. • Click STUDENT, STAFF & FACULTY LINK. • A password box will open containing two or three boxes. • If two boxes and your name was John Doe (with a user name of jdoe1121): • type suscorp\jdoe1121 in the USER NAME box. • type your social security number without hyphens in the PASSWORD box. • Click OK. • If three boxes: • type jdoe1121 in the USER NAME box. • type your social security number without hyphens in the PASSWORD box. • type suscorp in the DOMAIN box. • Click OK.

  46. How to Access Electronic Databases:Off-Campus • The REMOTE ACCESS HELP page will open. This page contains hyperlinks and passwords to go to the databases. • NOTE: If you do not know your username or password, or if you have trouble logging in, please contact the IT Helpdesk at helpdesk@sullivan.edu or call the IT Department at 502-456-0004 or 1-800-844-1354 ext 410.

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