The internet is a worldwide network of computers. The internet, also known as the web or the open web is an information system that links to sources online and allows users to navigate through the web, moving quickly and seamlessly from one source to another via hyperlinks. Sources available on the web can include text, images, video and sound.
One prevailing misconception is that everything is available on the internet or open web. As a matter of fact, only a small fraction of the world of information is available on the internet or open web. Think of the web as an iceberg. Anyone can see and access roughly less than 5% of the information available on the web for free, using popular search engines like Google. Wikipedia articles, for example, are open web resources that are available online to anyone who searches for them. In the illustration below, the area above the line represents the open web, where anyone has easy access to free information.
The other 95% of information available on the web is hidden from view and is known as the deep web. The deep web is where information is not free and is not included in popular search engine results. Library databases, for example, are deep web subscription resources that are available online, but only to authorized users such as students enrolled at Reynolds. Books, journals, magazines, newspapers and videos that are commercially available are usually not available on the open web. Thus, some of the most reliable information in existence must still be obtained from licensed library databases or traditional print sources. In the illustration below, the area underneath the line represents the deep web, where it costs money to gain access to higher-quality, reliable information.
Original graphic created by Kevin Simons from Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus and adapted by Virginia Community College System librarians for the statewide Connect for Success information literacy tutorial.
The table below compares the various differences between information found in the library databases vs. the open web:
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Library Databases (e.g., Academic Search Complete & MasterFile Premier) |
Open Web (e.g. Google & Bing) |
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Types of Information Retrieved |
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When to Use |
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Creditability / Review Process |
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Cost / Accessibility |
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Usability |
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Constancy / Permanence / Stability |
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Citing |
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A database is an organized collection of online records in a standardized format that can be accessed in a variety of ways. Academic Search Complete is one example of a database.
Each record in a database is composed of important elements of information that describe a specific item. For example, the elements of information for a specific article title in Academic Search Complete would be contained in a single database record.
Each record is composed of a set of fields which contain the individual elements of information. For example, each record in an article database includes fields such as: article title, authors, journal title (Source), subject terms, and abstract.
Example of a Record from the Academic Search Complete Database:
While there are newspapers and other services, like Google Scholar, available online for free, the library databases are services to which we pay to have access. Most of the articles contained in the library databases cannot be found through a search engine.
What is a library database?
A library database, such as Academic Search Complete and MasterFILE Premier, is an organized collection of electronic information that allows a user to search for a particular topic, article, book or video in a variety of ways (e.g., keyword, subject, author, title). Library databases contain thousands to millions of records or resources. The library purchases subscriptions to these databases (similar to purchasing a subscription to a magazine or newspaper).
What type of resources are indexed in library databases?
What types of information do the databases provide?
All databases provide citation information about the items they index. A citation typically consists of: author's name, title of article, title of the book, journal, magazine, newspaper, or video, publisher, date of publication.
How do the library databases differ in what they cover?
Some library databases are general - meaning that they index items from many subject areas or academic disciplines. If you're not sure which database to choose, you may want to start your research with our most comprehensive and general database, Academic Search Complete. Most library databases index items from a specific subject area or academic discipline (e.g., business, health, history, psychology). To browse databases by subject, use the Filter by Subject/Discipline menu option.
How do I access and use the databases?
The library databases can be accessed from the library’s homepage. If you are accessing the databases from off-campus, you will be prompted to login with your - My Reynolds username and password. The databases are accessible 24/7. If you need help in using the databases, chat with a librarian. This chat service is available 24/7. Just click on the Chat Now button located to the left side of any Reynolds Libraries page. You can also schedule a one-on-one research consultation with a librarian or sign up for a free library workshop.
Can't I get the same articles in the library databases by just Googling it?
In most cases, no. Most of the information retrieved from the open web by using Internet search engines, such as Google, is free. Library databases contain copyrighted, licensed, proprietary information that is not free. Reynolds Library pays yearly subscription fees for its databases just like it pays yearly subscription fees for its print journals, magazines, and newspapers.
What's wrong with just Googling it?
There's nothing wrong with using Google or another search engine to find information on the web. Just keep in mind that most of the information retrieved from the open web hasn't been evaluated. It could be inaccurate, biased, or it might not be current. Also, the authors of web sites might not have the same credentials as the authors of articles found in the library databases. You will need to more carefully evaluate information retrieved on the open web. All of the articles found in the library databases have already been evaluated for accuracy and credibility by discipline-specific experts and publishers.
My instructor told our class we are not allowed to use any (or only a few) Internet sources. Can I still use the library databases?
Yes. Library databases use the Internet as a delivery system but they are not considered the Internet. In most cases, your instructor means that they don’t want you using web sites or web pages found on the open web through Internet search engines such as Google. Most of the published resources found in the library databases are not available on the open web. Always clarify with your instructors what they actually mean when the class is told no (or few) Internet sources.
Start with a comprehensive general database such as Academic Search Complete or MasterFILE Premier.
If your instructor or a librarian directed you to a specific course or subject guide from Reynolds Libraries' Research Guides website, try the databases listed in the guide by clicking on the Find Articles tab/page of the guide.
You also can ask a librarian for recommendations on which databases to search for your particular topic.
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If you click on any Reynolds Libraries database link (including direct links to specific articles, eBooks and videos) from off-campus, you will be prompted with a Virginia's Community Colleges login screen. Use your My Reynolds username & multifactor authentication (MFA) to access any of the library databases from off-campus.
If you cannot login from off campus, email library@reynolds.edu or call 804.523.5211 - or - 523-5220. ProQuest Central eBooks Note: If you are accessing a ProQuest Central eBook from ON or OFF campus, you will be prompted with a Virginia's Community Colleges login screen. If you are accessing a ProQuest Central eBook from the library catalog, you will also be prompted to select your institution, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. |
AND 
Type AND between your keywords to narrow your search. The database or search engine will only retrieve those articles or web pages that contain both words. Using AND will decrease the number or hits or articles or web pages in your result list.
Example: school AND crime
Note: Some databases and search engines (such as Google and Craigslist) allow you to type a plus sign (+) in front of a keyword when doing a basic search. This works the same as AND.
Example: +school +crime
OR 
OR Type OR between your keywords to broaden your search. The database or search engine will retrieve those articles or web pages that contain at least one of these words. Using OR will increase the number of articles or web pages in your result list (especially if not used in combination with AND or NOT). Use OR between keywords that are synonyms or have similar meanings.
Example: baby OR infant
NOT 
Type NOT before a keyword to exclude that keyword from your search. Using NOT will decrease the number of articles or web pages in your result list. The best use of NOT is when you are searching for a keyword that may have multiple meanings.
Example: bat NOT baseball
Combo 
Use parentheses ( ) to keep combination searches in order. In the example below, the database or search engine will retrieve articles or web pages that must contain the word law and at least one of the words in parentheses.
Example: (ecstasy OR mdma) AND law
Truncation, also known as stemming, uses a character such as asterisk (*) or question mark (?) at the end of a word, which allows you to search for a root form of a word and pick up any ending.
Example: typing teen* will find teen, teens, teenage, teenager, teenagers.
Notes:
Wildcard symbols can be typed in place of a letter or letters within a keyword if you are not sure of the spelling or if there are different forms of the root word.
Example: wom?n will find both women and woman.
Note: Again, check the Help or Tips links available on most library databases and Internet search engines to verify the wildcard symbol that should be used - usually an asterisk (*) or question mark (?)
To look for an exact phrase, use quotation marks (" ") around the keywords.
Example: "attention deficit disorder”
Note: this works in most search engines as well. If you type an exact phrase without quotations when doing a basic search, most search engines will look for each word separately. This means your result list will include web pages that not only contain the exact phrase (ex: attention deficit disorder) but also web pages that contain a word or words from the exact phrase appearing separately (ex: attention may appear in one paragraph or sentence and disorder will appear in another paragraph or sentence).
