1. Why use them?

2.  A collection of information that is organized so that it can be easily accessed, managed, and updated  Information in a database may be general or subject/type specific  Databases are often created and provided for a fee  Information in a database is selected for inclusion

3. Database Free Web  Most college-level research resources are not available on the Free Web.  Ability to refine your search  Most provide citations for the source  One-stop-shopping with the ability to print, email, save, bookmark, cite sources, limit searches, type of material, reading level, etc.  Reliable and valid information  A lot of search returns are not of a college- level research quality  Limited ability to refine your search  Citations are often not provided or not to current standards.  More time consuming with limited ability for printing, saving, citing  Information is not always reliable or valid

4.  SDOHS pays for 5 databases  The Arizona State Library provides databases for free to all Arizona residents  The databases our school pays for and the Arizona State Library pays for are accessible from the SDOHS’s Library website  http://sdohs.dvusd.org – select MEDIA CENTER from the main menu http://sdohs.dvusd.org

5.  Databases are keyword searchable ◦ Keywords are just that, they are “key” to retrieving information ◦ List several keywords you might use to search for information before you begin  Use Boolean searching to increase and to limit your searches ◦ AND, OR, NOT (think of pizza)  Take advantage of a databases options for refining a searchhttp://sdohs.dvusd.orghttp://sdohs.dvusd.org

6.  Determine how many returns you have  Refine your search if necessary  Review the abstracts to see if the source provides the information you want  Email, print, save and cite the sources you want to use  http://sdohs.dvusd.org http://sdohs.dvusd.org

7.  What is a database?  Why would you want to use a database?  How to you get to the databases available to you?  What are words called that you use to search for information?  What is a Boolean search?  If your search results in too many returns, what should you do?