Research

• When searching for something specific, use quotation marks around your search phrase. Searching a phrase in quotes will yield only pages with the same words in the same order as what’s in the quotes.
• Use the minus sign to eliminate results containing certain words. For example jaguar -car if you are searching for information on the animal and don’t want your search results to include information on the car.

One last caution It is important to evaluate the information you find on a Web site to ensure it is credible. Here are things to consider when evaluating a Web site:

1. What does the URL tell you? .gov, .edu and .org tend to be more credible than .com
2. Who is the author of the Web site? Are they a qualified authority on the subject?
3. Are the sources of factual information provided so they can be verified?
4. Why was the Web site created? What is being advertised? Is there evidence of bias?
5. Is the information current? Are dates provided to show when content was created?
6. Does the page have overall integrity and reliability as a source?

Databases

A Library database is an indexed collection of magazine, journal, newspaper articles, abstracts, and other information, which has been checked for accuracy and reliability by publishers and then licensed for distribution in online/electronic format. Many of the sources included in the database come from known print sources that publishers sell to the databases. For example, the New York Times is a known newspaper, the articles from which are indexed and included in a full-text online format in various databases. Research done using our databases ensures access to information that is safe, accurate, current, validated and organized. 

WPL subscribes to two different types of databases: Article and Reference databases.

An Article Database(EBSCO, for instance) enables you to search through hundreds of different periodicals to find articles on a particular topic. Some of the articles are in full text, which can be both read and printed out, while other articles are only found in abstract form (a summary), or a citation (a listing of where you may find a printed version of the article).

A Reference Database provides information such as facts and statistics from a printed source.  We have access to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, which is an internet version of the 32 Volume edition. An online version of a printed source takes up less shelving space. Reference Databases are usually subject specific, so while one database may be just an encyclopedia, another database may cover just History or Art or Science.

Woodbury Public Library’s Databases

• General – Encyclopedia Britannica, Mango Languages, Country Watch, ERIC, and EBSCO
• News – Custom Newspapers, New York State Newspapers
• Literature – Twayne’s Authors, Gale Literature Resource Center
• Science and Health – Encyclopedia of Science, Medline Plus, PubMed Central,  Health and Wellness Resource Center
• Business – Gale Business, Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center
• History & Genealogy – HeritageQuest, Annals of American History, Biography Resource Center
• Students – Britannica Kids, EBSCO Middle Search, Grolier Online

How does a database differ from a website?

• Databases get their information from experts or professionals, while websites can be written by anyone regardless of expertise.
• Databases contain published works where facts are checked, while website content is not necessarily checked.
• Databases are easy to cite in a bibliography, while websites often do not provide the information to create a complete citation.
• Databases can help narrow down a topic or suggest a related subject, while websites are not often organized to support specific research needs.
• Databases are frequently updated and include date of publication, while websites may not indicate when a page is updated.