American Heritage School Library Orientation

• Use library databases to search for information on your research topic

• A  library database is a collection of information (articles, ebooks, etc.) published electronically by a credible publisher.

• Although you use a computer to search within databases, they are not the same as websites. 

• Databases can help you efficiently search for published information that has some level of vetting completed already.

• They are usually accessed through a library's portal to bypass paywalls.

Not every database is accessible to every library user at the Alvin Sherman Library. When choosing a database, you want to make sure that you have access to it.

Most databases are accessible to everyone when you come in person to NSU's campus. Access at home is limited for some of them.

All of our database listings have images underneath them that tell you who can access which database and where.

The key below indicates that a building will tell you who can use the database on campus, a house will tell you who can use the database off campus, and a bus indicates that these databases are good for younger students.

For public library users, you'll want to look for the words "All" or "Broward" underneath to database descriptions to indicate where you can use them. For example:

Gale Academic One File has a tall building followed by the word "All" indicated that everyone can use this resource inside the library. Next is a small house icon, which reads "NSU, Broward, Alumni" which tells us that all NSU affiliates, Broward County public library users, and Alumni can use this database from home.

This would be a good option to use as a database at home.

When using a library database, you need to search for articles using keywords that describe your topic and combine your keywords using Boolean operators AND, OR, or NOT. What the videos below to learn how to find your keywords and use Boolean operators.