Week One Blog: Databases

Up until this point I thought I was pretty decent ant finding research online. Google was like my best friend when it came to finding information online. After attending Thursday’s class I was clearly mistaken. We learned so much information about the library’s website and all of the different tools that can be beneficial throughout our college careers. Some of the information I retained, however most of it has already slipped my mind. I will definitely have to explore the website more in-depth to try and remember all of the useful information Amanda has explained to us. One of my favorite things about the website is how many different databases it contains. There are databases particularly for one broad subject, and others that you can find almost anything on. These databases are definitely more effective to use than Google due to the fact that Google may display information that may not be accurate and it shows information that is totally irrelevant to your topic. Whereas you may get links that are irrelevant on these databases, you are more likely to receive information that is beneficial. Plus with these articles, most of the time they give you all the information you need in order to cite them. Another thing that I like about this website is that you can search the libraries catalog, also known as CAT and while searching if you find a book that you need, you can click the “I want it” link, and the library will have someone go and retrieve it for you. They will put the book on hold for you and alert you once the book is ready to be picked up. I have actually already used this link is it may possibly be one of the best tools ever invented. All I had to do was request the book, go in and swipe my card and they handed me my textbook right there. It took all of 3 minutes. The libraries website has so much information; everything you need is so convenient that the only work that you have to do is the actual reading. Don’t you just love technology? Life is good!