A quick guide to using NC LIVE effectively at Brunswick Community College.

1. NC LIVE Databases
http://brunswickcc.libguides.com/az.php?v=79362
NC LIVE is a state-supported online collection of databases – designed for at-home use – that provides
full, free access to information in a variety of formats, including: eBooks, magazines, newspapers,
journals, and audiovisual media. Please contact Brunswick Community College Library for assistance
with NC LIVE (in person, via telephone, 910-755-7331, or via email, bcclrc@brunswickcc.edu).
How to access NC LIVE databases
1. Visit <http://brunswickcc.libguides.com/az.php?v=79362> OR navigate to the Library Portal
(http://brunswickcc.libguides.com/home); click on the “A-Z Database List” link under the Quick Links
section on the left side of the homepage; and then filter that list by vendor (NC LIVE).
2. Click on the title of the specific NC LIVE database needed – ProQuest Central is a good first stop for
general topics.
3. If off campus, sign in using your full BCC email address and password by clicking on the “Log in with
your BCC username” button. If you are using a personal computer, stay signed in; otherwise, if on a
public machine, do not stay signed in.
4. Once in the database, type search terms in the “Basic Search” box near the top of the screen; check
the “Full text” and “Peer reviewed” boxes as needed.

2. Updated December 2019
Searching strategies
Unlike internet search engines, NC LIVE databases are best searched with keywords as opposed to long
statements or research questions. Connect your keywords together with Boolean search operators:
AND, OR, NOT.
 Beyonce AND Lemonade
 Beyonce OR Adele
 Beyonce NOT Adele
Tips for better searching (using ProQuest Central as an example)
1. Narrow your results to (on the left side of the page):
a. Full text
b. Peer reviewed
c. A specific source type
d. A range of publication dates
2. Click into the full record of select results; by reviewing this information
(particularly abstracts), you can learn more about your topic and discover new
search terms to try.
3. Don’t settle, where your research is concerned – take time to find the
appropriate sources for your project.
Gathering sources
1. Click into the full records of sources you want to consult later
– print, save to a flash drive, or email to yourself.
2. Use the “Cite” button to copy and paste the citation for the
source in any style you need (MLA, APA, etc.).
Recommended databases by subject
Subject/ Discipline NC LIVE Databases
Arts & Literature Arts & Humanities Database ● Ebook Central ● ProQuest Central
Controversial Issues CQ Researcher ● SIRS Issues Researcher
History & Politics ABC-CLIO eBook Collection ● Historic North Carolina Digital Newspaper
Collection ● Military Database ● Political Science Database ● ProQuest Central
Nursing & Allied
Health
Consumer Health Database ● Ebook Central ● Health & Medical Collection ●
Healthcare Administration Database ● Nursing & Allied Health Database ●
ProQuest Central
Psychology &
Sociology
Ebook Central ● ProQuest Central ● Psychology Database ● Social Science
Database ● Sociology Database
Science &
Technology
Agricultural & Environmental Science Collection ● Biological Science Database
● Computer Science Database ● Ebook Central ● ProQuest Central ● Science
Database ● Telecommunications Database