Databases Help  

Questions About Using the Databases Page

What service is available on the Databases page?

How do I go directly to just one resource (e.g. "How do I get to Heritage Quest?")?

How do I see all the resources in a subject category?

How do I search an entire category of resources?

Which resources are cross-searchable?

Can I choose multiple resources to search simultaneously (make my own "mix")?

Questions About Federated Searching

What is federated searching?

Is the Databases page the only way to search more than one resource at a time?

What are the advantages of a federated search?

What are the disadvantages of a federated search?

Q. What service is available on the Databases page?

A. This page lists all of the library's databases, describes the contents of each one and allows you to sort them by subject, but adds an interface for searching multiple resources at one time ("federated searching" -- more on this below). While you can search multiple resources at one time, including the library's catalog, you probably want to limit your search to a specific category to produce more meaningful results. You do not have to use this search interface; you can still go directly to the resource you want to search and use its own interface. The interface on the Databases page does not search the library's website, library FAQs or the Internet. The Databases page replaces the "articles and databases" page from the old website.

Q. How do I go directly to just one resource (e.g. "How do I get to Heritage Quest?")?

A. After the subject categories is an A-to-Z list of all the resources. Clicking on the underlined name of the resource will take you directly to that resource.

Q. How do I see all the resources in a subject category?

A. After the search box is a list of all the categories. Click on the underlined name of the category and the page will reload showing just the resources in that category.

Q. How do I search an entire category of resources?

A. After choosing your search terms and limiters, put a checkmark next to the subject category of resources you wish to search (you'll notice that the individual resources assigned to that category will automatically have a checkmark placed next to them). Alternately, click on the category name and when the page reloads with just that category's resources, you can narrow your search to just some of that category's resources.

Q. Which resources are cross-searchable?

A. Only 50 of our resources are cross-searchable. Resources where the checkbox is grayed out (ie. you cannot place a checkmark next to it) are not cross-searchable, but you can still access them directly by clicking on the name of the resource.

Q. Can I choose multiple resources to search simultaneously (make my own "mix")?

A. Yes. Select or deselect (put/remove a checkmark next to) the cross-searchable resources you want to search.

Q. What is federated searching?

A. Simply put, federated searching is a search conducted across multiple databases at one time.

Q. Is the Databases page the only way to search more than one resource at a time?

A. No. The federated search on the Databases page will cross-search resources regardless of database provider. Many of our databases come from two providers, EBSCO and Gale. Both providers allow cross-searching of their products. From any EBSCO database, click on the "choose databases" link at the top of the page next to the name of the active database. For Gale databases, click on the "change databases" link in the upper-right corner of the active database to choose cross-searchable databases. While your search is restricted to just one company's products, you gain many advanced search features not found in the federated search available from the Databases page.

Q. What are the advantages of a federated search?

A. Here are a few advantages: One search interface for multiple resources from different database providers eliminates the need for the user to learn how to use the different search interfaces of all the individual databases. Increasing the size of the collection searched may help improve the number of articles retrieved. The searcher may be exposed to relevant content from resources that s/he may not have been familiar with.

Q. What are the disadvantages of a federated search?

A. Some strengths are weaknesses. By presenting the user with one simplified search interface and a simplified way of refining results, a federated search takes away a lot of the control and decision-making that are essential to advanced searches within one particular database. This simplification of search is necessary to connect to resources from different providers. Content providers each have their own way of indexing content and finding a way to connect to all of them (federated search) takes a lowest common denominator approach. You'll notice that the Databases page provides only 5 indexes and a few limiters. The 5 indexes tend to be the ones that many databases use to index content. Another disadvantage is that such features as personalized accounts and MLA/APA citation generators are unique to particular databases and are unavailable from the Databases page search.

This guide will help answer any questions you may have about our databases, including how to search them and what service changes have been implemented.

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