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The most frequently-used databases
Why use this database?
Academic OneFile is a general database with peer-reviewed, full-text articles on a variety of subjects.
What you need to know:
This database is useful for anyone looking for a good starting point for general research in almost any subject area.
Why use this database?
Academic Search Complete covers a broad variety of subjects. It provides access to journals, magazines, reports, books, and videos.
What you need to know:
This is a multidisciplinary database, so searches can be conducted on a wide range of topics.
Why use this database?
CQ Researcher examines contemporary issues by providing overviews, opposing viewpoints, statistics, Pro/Con arguments, and bibliographies on topics such as religion, war, human rights, law, and global warming.
What you need to know:
This database is useful for starting research on current events topics, especially for speeches and/or argumentative papers.
Why use this database?
Credo Reference allows access to hundreds of reference books, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, subject-specific texts, and many more. The Mind Map feature helps draw connections between different aspects of a topic.
What you need to know:
This database is useful for locating background and general information in almost all subject areas to help you better understand your topic.
Why use this database?
Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints can be used to search articles, videos, charts, images, and infographics. It includes topical overviews, news, and opinions on hundreds of important social issues.
What you need to know:
Use this database to discover and choose research paper topics, and find in-depth articles for research assignments for any class.
Why use this database?
A database that indexes journals (articles), books (available by chapters), primary sources, and images. In addition to the many journals that the Learning Commons subscribes to, you can also use JSTOR and Artstor's open access content. At the bottom of the page, you will find a link titled “What’s in JSTOR.” One of the first links within the body of that page it to "Open and free content" which includes resources from both JSTOR and Artstor.
What you need to know:
Use JSTOR to get great results for all areas of research for any class assignment. Artstor indexes images from numerous museums and libraries, including the Art Institute of Chicago. It is a great resource for art, art history, and CAT research. Check out JSTOR Daily to see how it matches scholarly information to current topics.
The following databases are newly acquired or being evaluated for a future subscription.
Contexts is not a database, its a quarterly magazine by the American Sociological Association. Each edition examines sociological trends, social change, and current findings in the field.
What you need to know:
Contexts contains peer-reviewed articles. To navigate this magazine, you can go to the table of contents and then click on whichever title piques your interest. You can also use the search bar to find resources on a specific topic.
For over 130 years The Merck Index has been regarded as the most authoritative and reliable source of key physical, pharmacological and historical information on chemicals, drugs and biologicals.
What you need to know:
The Merck Index* Online is an encyclopedic database of chemical substances. It is continuously expanded with expert-curated content highlighting only the most relevant literature and patents.
News for You offers easy-to-read news stories that can help you learn to read, write, speak and understand the English language. News articles include audio, exercises, and vocabulary. There is also a crossword and word search available each week.
What you need to know:New stories are posted on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you run into a paywall, please contact the Learning Commons for assistance.
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