This study compared five topics in the ERIC and LLISFT databases to determine the number of articles found for each topic in each database and the key search terms used. The five topics were: 1) current changes in teacher certification, 2) increase of solar energy use in the past ten years, 3) school media, 4) cultural assimilation, and 5) multicultural learning in schools. A total of 1194 articles were retrieved from the two databases with no duplicate articles found between databases. The study showed the importance of using different search terms and databases to retrieve all relevant articles on a topic.

1. A Comparative Study of Five Topics in ERIC and Library Literature and Information Science Full-Text (LLISFT) Databases

2. Margarita RhodenUniversity of Southern Mississippi

3. This study comparedERIC and the LLSFT databases’ on five specific topics

4. ERIC easy-to-use, searchable bibliographic and full-text articles

5. LLISFT bibliographic database- indexes articles and book reviews in over 234 library and information science periodicals published in the United States

6. Librarians search databases to learn the extent of the information available Knowledge of terminology in the database thesaurus and the scope of the information are important to obtain the best search results. Every search conducted reveals the extent of the information in the database.

7. STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS typically use databases most familiar to their discipline. search known databases and may omit relevant information in other databases.

8. Research Questions How many articles about each topic appear in each database? What key search terms were used and were they the same in each database? Are there more articles found by narrowing the search term or broadening it?

9. Methodology research conducted by any student at the University of Southern Mississippi five topics of random issues in education and general interest

10. TOPICS 1). current changes in teacher certification 2). increase of solar energy use in the past ten years 3). school media 4). cultural assimilation 5). multicultural learning in schools

11. RESULTS * More than 10 articles were retrieved **1194 articles were retrieved.

12. CONCLUSION This study illustrated the importance of researchers knowing several similar or related search terms to use and using other databases. Each database used different controlled vocabulary and required their use in order to retrieve relevant articles. All the topics searched within the two databases found no duplicate articles between the two databases. Each database drew from different journals and had unique articles on the topic.

13. A large portion of materials budget invested to provide the best access to information affordable The greatest value of a full text database is its ability to bring new, quality sources into the library’s collection. The greatest value a librarian can provide is the knowledge of what lies within the databases.