The search
Having established that the best place to search for scholarly, up-to-date and relevant material is the bibliographic database, where can you find these, and how do you select which one to search? This section provides some tips for you on strategies for searching bibliographic databases.
Access to databases
Bibliographic databases are not all provided for free. Most operate on a subscription basis, so you will need to find out which databases your institution has subscribed to, and how you gain access to these databases. This information is usually provided by the library in academic institutions, often on their web pages and through leaflets that can be found in the library itself. Ask a librarian if you need information on what bibliographic databases are available to you.
Which database?
Libraries also often provide information about individual bibliographic databases, including a description of the subjects each one covers and the range of material they describe. If your own library does not, try searching for information on other libraries' web pages. This won't be relevant to your own library's subscriptions but if you already know which databases you have access to, then information that other libraries make publicly available may help you to select which databases to search. The trouble is that, even with detailed information about the databases, often many of them will appear relevant to your search, and if you're using bibliographic databases for the first time it can be even harder to choose which ones to search. You may find yourself logging into lots of different databases to find all the relevant resources, and finding that some are more helpful than others.
Cross-searching a number of bibliographic databases is therefore a great way to start your search.
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