This document discusses using databases to find chemical information. It explains that databases organize information into searchable fields and differ from general search engines like Google. The document outlines the main types of databases, including library catalogs, reference books, and article databases, and notes they can vary in subjects covered, publications types, dates, indexing methods, and content. Special features of databases are described, such as truncation, Boolean operators, and field-specific searching to help users efficiently find relevant chemical information.

1. Using ‘databases’ to find
chemical information
LINDA NEYER, SCIENCE LIBRARIAN
BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY LIBRARY OF PENNSYLVANIA

2. Databases – what are they?
How differ from Google?
What types?
Library catalog
Reference books
Article databases

3. Info organized in ‘fields’

4. How do databases differ from each other?
 subjects
 types of publications
 dates
Other differences
 indexing
 content

5. Special database features
Truncation (aka ‘wildcards’)
e.g., chemi* truncated will find:
chemical
chemicals
chemistry
chemists
etc.

6. More special features
Boolean operators, e.g.

7. Field specific searching

8. Questions?