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Databases and Electronic Indexes

You'll find three broad categories of databases and electronic indexes in most college or university libraries. These range from general indexes, such as the Reader's Guide to Periodic Literature, to specialized indexes and government databases. To learn more about each of these, click on the items below:

• General Indexes
• Specialized Indexes
• Government Databases

There are a wide range of electronic databases on the Internet. Some of them are free. Most, however, are available only by subscription. All university libraries pay licensing fees to a wide variety of selected databases in order to provide students, faculty and staff with the necessary access.

These licensing agreements often only allow access through library computers or those connected to the campus network. Contact your library to determine which databases you can access via the Internet.

Here are two of the most useful databases available without a subscription:

• ERIC: a Database containing more than 1.2 million abstracts of documents and articles in the field of education.
• FedWorld: a Web site providing access to thousands of U.S. Government Web sites and more than a 1/2 million U.S. Government documents, databases and other information products.