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*First Generation Student or New to College?

Is the college experience a new one for you? Use this guide to get started. Need more help? You are ALWAYS welcome to reach out to anyone on the Burgess Library Staff! Use the Contact Us box on the left.

What IS a Database and Which One Do I Start With?

What is a database?  Have you watched squirrels? No a squirrel is not a database!  But a squirrel runs around and gathers nuts.  And, it is picky about the kind of nuts it gets.  Databases are the same way.  They gather and collect materials together.  Some are general like Credo which gives you basic information (like an encyclopedia ) while others focus on one subject area (like Ferguson's Career Guidance or Criminal Justice Abstracts).  The materials a database gathers include academic journals, maps, videos, music, and more.  Materials in a database are checked, so you can rely on them to be accurate and up-to-date.  

Listed below are some databases to use in starting to find information about your topic.  Some of these have helpful tools, like the Topic Finder in Academic OneFile or the Mind Map in Credo.