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Databases
The Library subscribes to many databases of online resources.
These databases can include journal articles, news articles, ebooks, streaming videos, and specialised information such as standards, theses, case studies and images.
So what is a library database?
I got my first uni assignment and my lecturer told me to look in the library databases for journal articles.
I was like, THE WHAT?
But when I got to the University Library, a librarian explained it to me.
She said: first you have to get your head around what the academic journals.
These are not your 'dear diary' journals, right?
Academic journals are collections of articles written by experts in an academic discipline.
They've usually been reviewed by other academics in this field, who have said that this research is original, and important, and at a high standard.
This means that, if you use them, you'll get better marks than if you use Wikipedia, or a random website you've found on Google.
In the past, journals were always printed; articles were written and collected in journals which were published at regular intervals.
Libraries collected these and filled lots of shelves with them.
Then the internet came along and changed the way journals were produced.
Now they are more often found online as e-journals.
Online e-journals are organised in library databases.
A library database is like a bucket: each holds a collection of e-journals. Some databases hold heaps of journals in them while others don't have that many.
The University Library subscribes to databases that focus on relevant subjects for RMIT students and researches.
No single database will have all the information you need, so you need to find out which ones are best for what you're researching.
The Library has subject guides that show you which databases are best for your area.
It's so much easier to find information when you know where to look and why!
Choosing a database
Databases are a rich source of information in the subject areas taught at RMIT University, but there are many different databases. How do you know which one to choose?
The Subject Guides have been written by librarians to help you select the most relevant databases for your topic.
If you know the name of the database you want, you can find it using the Database A-Z list from LibrarySearch.
Searching databases
Most databases offer both a basic and an advanced search option. If you need help searching a particular database, look for the Help menu in the database to find tips and 'How to' videos. You may also find database tutorials on YouTube, and from some Library Subject Guides.
For an advanced database search, you may need to use Boolean operators. Boolean operators connect your search terms together in specific ways (AND, OR, NOT), and also help you to narrow or broaden your search.
Activity: Boolean operators
Learn more about Boolean operators and how to use them by completing this activity.
Boolean operators
Some databases and catalogues allow you to combine keywords using Boolean operators (advanced operators).
Select an operator to view the search results.
Truncation and wildcards
Some databases and catalogues also allow you to use truncation and wildcard symbols.
Select a symbol to view the result.
behaviour* =
behavioural, behaviours, behaviour.
organi?ational behavio?r =
organisational, organizational, behaviour, behavior.
Searching for a phrase
Some databases and catalogues allow you to search for phrases.
Select the symbol to view the result.
"organisational behaviour" =
results with the exact words, "organisational behaviour"
Boolean operators
Some databases and catalogues allow you to combine keywords using Boolean operators (advanced operators).
- AND operator:
"Travel AND Tourism" - Travel AND Tourism retrieves records with both travel and tourism (indicated by the shaded area) and narrows the number of records retrieved. - OR operator:
"Travel OR Tourism" - Travel OR Tourism retrieves records where either travel or tourism occur (indicated by the shaded area) and broadens the number of records retrieved. - NOT operator:
"Travel NOT Tourism" - Travel NOT Tourism retrieves records with the keyword "travel" but not "tourism" (indicated by the shaded area).
Truncation and wildcards
Some databases and catalogues also allow you to use truncation and wildcard symbols.
- Truncation
behaviour* = behavioural, behaviours, behaviour.
You can use truncation to broaden your search by substituting a word ending with a symbol. In this example, we use an asterisk (*) as the truncation symbol. However, different databases use different symbols, so you need to check the search tips in a database to find out what symbol it uses. - Wildcards
organi?ational behavio?r = organisational, organizational, behaviour, behavior.
You can use wildcards to broaden your search by substituting letters in words. In this example, we have used a question mark (?) as the wildcard symbol. However, different databases use different symbols, so you will need to check the search tips in a database to find out what symbol it uses.
Searching for a phrase
Some databases and catalogues allow you to search for phrases. Quotation marks placed at the beginning and end of a phrase narrows a search. Only results that include the exact phrase will appear.
- "organisational behaviour" = results with the exact words, "organisational behaviour"