Information about Databases

Databases are electronic storage files containing thousands of materials traditionally available in print. These are essentially print resources that can be accessed electronically. Databases include information on a wealth of topics and in various formats, such as:
• scholarly journal, magazine and newspaper articles
• poems
• biographies
• business reports
• health information
• audio files
• video files
• online tests
• genealogy records.
The materials have been digitally scanned and stored for retrieval by keywords, subject, author, and/or title.

  
What are the advantages of using databases?
• Easy access to copyrighted information normally not found free on the Internet through any search engine.
• Information stored in databases has been reviewed by editors and publishers to insure accuracy
• Some databases give the option to set up a personal account to store the information you have found during your session 

Isn't everything on the internet anyway?
No, it’s not. Some materials are not available in their entirety, or require a paid subscription. Other materials, due to copyright constraints, are never published online. Blackwater Regional Library offers online visitors with library cards a rich and varied database collection available for free anytime of the day, from a computer in the library or at home. The Internet is a wonderful resource and a great convenience, but it’s far from perfect. Using search engines along with library databases ensures you’ve uncovered the material you need.