2.4.2 Databases

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A database is a searchable collection of records referring to published information. To be precise, library catalogues and the Internet are both databases, but the library uses the term to refer to database products produced by external parties. Some databases are free of charge and others are subscribed to, on your behalf, by QUT Library.

View a demonstration of a database record. [1:56 minutes; options; help]

The content of databases varies.

The databases we will focus on are those used to identify individual periodical articles.

Databases which contain and refer to periodical articles

At the very least a database will provide basic bibliographic information including:

• the author (of article)
• the title (of article)
• the title of periodical (source)
• the volume, issue and/or publication year
• the page numbering.

This is enough information for you to locate a copy of the periodical article.

In addition to these bibliographic details, some databases will provide:

• subject headings
• an abstract or summary
• fulltext.

Fulltext means that you will be able to view the entire article in that database. Fulltext access can come in various formats.

The two main formats are HTML and PDF.