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Lloyd Sealy Library
John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Library Basics: Find and Use Databases

A quick overview of the Library: The physical space, off-campus resources, research tips, and more

What is a Database?

A library database is an online collection of searchable information and resources. It usually includes articles from journals, newspapers, magazines, and sometimes books.

For more Library terminology, please visit our Glossary

Formulate a Search Strategy

When you find a useful article, locate its subject headings to further explore your topic:

Article's Subject

Some databases will show you a list of subject headings along with your results, which can also aid you in your search:

Article's Subject

You can also perform a search using the terms found in these subject headings:

Ex: "Labor Market" AND "People with Disabilities" 

Consider alternate terms as you research:

Ex: If researching issues related to "teenagers," one might also use the word "adolescents." 

Find Articles in a Database

On the Library's homepage, select the Databases tab in the main search box.
Search box from homepage: Databases tab pre-selected

To explore the most-used databases at the Library, select the dropdown menu that says "Select from popular databases." You can also find databases by subject or by title.

If you wish to find articles in a given academic discipline, view databases by subject

If you want to explore a specific database, view databases by title