Library Databases, also known as periodical indexes allow you to search for citations to articles in magazines, conference papers and scholarly journals. Increasingly these databases have the complete or "full text" of articles as well. Databases cover all sorts of subjects. Starting with a general or multi-disciplinary database will find articles about new trends, opinions, and information for the non-specialist. One you may be familiar with is called Expanded Academic Index

Where do you find these databases? Good question. The UNSW Library buys access to various databases and provides this access to its community of users to via the Web. Use Sirius or the LRD to access UNSW Library electronic databases. Sirius also provides access to e-books, e-journals, and many other electronic reference resources such as encyclopedias and handbooks. Selected Web Gateways and UNSW Library Subject Guides are also be accessed via Sirius. Some periodical indexes are only avaiable in print in the Library building. Some are only available in print for early volumes, with the most recent decades on the Web.

Library Databases are one of the best places to find information because:

• you can access most of them through the Library Web site
• they index information such as journals and conference proceedings which has gone through an editorial review process
• they cover a variety of subjects
• they are structured for finding information more precisely and so you get better results
• they offer citations to both popular and scholarly publications that have articles on your topic

In Module Two you will learn more about choosing and searching Library Databases. Mastering these skills will make research a whole lot easier.