A database is a collection of organized information stored in a way that allows for quick access. It contains records of similar data items, with each record divided into fields containing specific pieces of information. For example, a database could contain records for each student at a high school, with fields for each student's name, address, and favorite teacher. Users can search databases to find needed records by entering search terms in a search box limited to key fields, or by conducting more specific advanced searches that designate which fields to search.

1. What is a database?

2. A collection of information
organized in such a way
that information can be
quickly and easily accessed.
A database is:

3. A DATABASE IS A COLLECTION OF
INFORMATION ABOUT SIMILAR ITEMS.

4. FOR EXAMPLE,
YOU COULD HAVE A
DATABASE FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT WENT
TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

5. ALL OF THE COMBINED
INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR
STUDENT IS CALLED:
A RECORD.

6. ALL OF THE PIECES OF
INFORMATION ABOUT A
PERSON ARE PLACED INTO THE
PARTS OF A RECORD CALLED:
FIELDS
EXAMPLES OF FIELDS: NAME
ADDRESS
FAVORITE TEACHER

7. OUR HIGH SCHOOL
DATABASE WOULD COLLECT
THE SAME INFORMATION
ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

8. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
RECORD FOR LARRY JONES.
NAME: LARRY JONES
ADDRESS: 741 PAMONA DRIVE
FAVORITE TEACHER: MS. WILSON
REMEMBER
A RECORD IS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS CALLED FIELDS.

9. WE COULD CREATE A DATABASE FOR THE LOCAL BIRDS

10. TO SET UP OUR BIRD DATABASE WE NEED
TO DECIDE WHICH FIELDS WE WANT.
COLOR
SIZE
DIET
SONG

11. EACH RECORD IS DIVIDED INTO
SMALLER PARTS CALLED FIELDS.
THE INFORMATION IN A RECORD
IS PLACED INTO SEPARATE FIELDS.

12. THE SOUTH GEORGIA TECH LIBRARY HAS A DATABASE THAT
CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THE LIBRARY’S BOOKS.
library.southgatech.edu

13. THE DATABASE HAS A RECORD
FOR EVERY BOOK IN THE LIBRARY.
THE INFORMATION ABOUT A BOOK IS PUT INTO SUB-SECTIONS CALLED FIELDS.
ALL RECORDS HAVE THE SAME FIELDS.

14. EACH RECORD CONSISTS OF FIELDS.
EACH RECORD HAS THE SAME FIELDS
THIS IS A DATABASE FOR PATIENTS STAYING IN A HOSPITAL.

15. TO RETRIEVE INFORMATION FROM A
DATABASE, YOU CAN USE A SEARCH BOX.
TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH TERMS
AND CLICK ON “SEARCH”.

16. The search box provides a way for users
to quickly and easily find information.
A search box limits the search to the
most important fields in the record .

17. A basic search of
the database will be
limited to the title,
author, and subject
fields.
THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF FIELDS
THAT WILL NOT BE
SEARCHED.
THIS IS A RECORD FROM THE LIBRARY DATABASE.

18. BY RESTRICTING A SEARCH TO THE MOST IMPORTANT
FIELDS IN A RECORD, THE SEARCH BOX WILL OFTEN
PROVIDE A SEARCHER WITH A NUMBER OF RESULTS
DEALING WITH HIS OR HER TOPIC.

19. YOU CAN CONDUCT AN
ADVANCED SEARCH WHERE
YOU WILL DECIDE WHICH
FIELDS WILL BE SEARCHED.

20. FOR EAMPLE, THE SGTC LIBRARY DATABASE,
PROVIDES FOR AN ADVANCED SEARCH.
GO TO: library.southgatech.edu

21. CLICK ON
ADVANCED
SEARCH

22. THIS IS WHAT THE ADVANCED SEARCH PAGE LOOKS LIKE.
THIS PAGE ALLOWS YOU TO LIMIT YOUR SEARCH TO A
PARTICULAR FIELD OR A PARTICULAR BRANCH OF THE
LIBRARY.

23. TO LIMIT YOUR SEARCH TO ONE FIELD , ENTER YOUR
SEARCH TERM AND THEN CHOOSE THE FIELD YOU
WANT TO SEARCH.

24. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF LIMITED SEARCHES.
SUPPOSE WE ONLY WANTED RECORDS FOR ITEMS
THAT HAVE “OPRAH WINFREY” IN THE TITLE.
SUPPOSE WE ONLY WANT RECORDS ABOUT SWIMMING.
SUPPOSE WE ONLY WANT RECORDS FOR BOOKS
WRITTEN BY SUE GRAFTON

25. AN ADVANCED SEARCH ALLOWS YOU
TO COMBINE DIFFERENT SEARCH TERMS.
IN THIS EXAMPLE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RECORDS THAT:
HAVE THE WORD “WILSON” IN THE AUTHOR FIELD
HAVE THE WORD “CINCINNATI” IN THE SUBJECT FIELD
DO NOT HAVE THE WORD “BENGALS ” IN THE TITLE FIELD

26. http://www.galileo.usg.edu
Your database skills can be used in GALILEO.
A collection of databases provided
to us by the State of Georgia.

27. You can access GALILEO on the SGTC campus
without having to use a password.
If you want to use GALILEO off-campus,
you will need to have the current password.
To get the password call: 229-931-2562.