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You can use open access databases, that is, databases that are available to the general public through the internet, or subscribe to particular databases yourself. However, in most cases, it is easiest to access databases through your university library catalogue. Your library will probably subscribe to many different databases. You can search the databases to see what has been published on your topic, and then check your library catalogue to see if the items you want are available in your library. If your library does not stock an item, you may be able to obtain it through an inter-library loan.

If you know which databases you want, search for them by title. Check your course reading list or ask a librarian for recommended databases for your subject. If you do not know which databases to use, search for them by subject. For example, if you are looking for information about how children learn to read, you could look for databases under education.

When you have selected the database you want to use, you can search for items in the same way that you search your library catalogue: by title, author and key words. However, as with e-book and e-journal providers, each database has its own website so they all look and work slightly differently.

Tips

When you select databases in your library catalogue search facility, make sure you type in the name of a database, not the name of the journal or article that you are looking for.

If you do not know the name of a database, search for one by subject.

If you get poor results with one database, try searching for articles using a different database within your subject area.