An Online Database is a comprehensive collection of information in electronic form and organized for quick retrieval. Typically it is comprised of a large collection of encyclopedia, magazine, and/or newspaper articles, and occasionally other media such as transcripts, interviews, maps, historical documents, photos and videos. Databases, like encyclopedias can be general or subject specific.
Importantly, information contained in published articles has gone through some degree of editing. That means knowledgeable people from the field have reviewed and edited the information before it is published. We call this process refereeing. You cannot Google these articles – they are available only through subscription. Through your University/College Library, you will have access to many online databases. Check the catalog or with your librarian.
Here is a comparison between the information you can access through an Online Database vs Google:
| “Google” | Online Database |
| Search engine – a “door” into the internet | Curated collection of published information |
| “Free” as long as you have a computer and internet access | Available only by subscription, paid through the library |
| Limited – Google gets you to approx. 3% of the internet | Online databases are usually very large collections of information |
| Anyone can say anything, any time! | Edited, often peer reviewed & published |
Library Skills and Knowledge 