Database vs Website

How is a library database different from a website?

Library Databases   Websites
Get their information from professionals or experts in the field.   Can be written by anyone regardless of expertise.
Contain published works where facts are checked.   Content is not necessarily checked by anyone, expert or not.
Easy to cite in a bibliography and may create the citation for you.   Don't provide the information necessary to create a complete citation.
Help you narrow down your topic or suggest related subjects.   Aren't often organized to support student research needs.
Updated frequently and include the date of publication.   May not contain current information or indicate when a page is updated.
Available to anyone using a computer in a library that subscribes to databases or any library cardholder using a computer outside the library.   Available to anyone with an internet connection inside or outside the library.

 

What is a library database?

  • A website that requires a paid subscription in order to access information.
  • Contains information from published works such as articles from magazines or encyclopedias.
  • Can be used to search for titles, authors, magazines, dates, etc. 
  • Often give you access to full-text articles that can be printed or e-mailed. 
  • Are selected by librarians to meet the needs of their library patrons.

 

 

Questions to ask about ANY information: 

  • Currency: How recent is the information, and when was it last updated?

  • Organization: Is it easy to find the information you need?

  • Accuracy: How reliable is the information, and are the facts accurate?

  • Bibliography: How easy is the work to cite in a bibliography? Does it give you the author, title, publisher, and date?

  • Unfamiliar Topics: How useful is it when you don’t know where to start?

  • Languages: How easily can the work provide languages other than English?

Any source, whether a library database or website, can have good information. It is necessary to think critically about all information that you read or view.