LibGuides: Research Databases 101: Choose a Search Tool

The NWACC Library offers a wide selection of over 150 databases for our students. Each database serves a unique purpose, so it's crucial to be selective. They should consider their research needs, such as the type of content required (scholarly articles, statistics, multimedia), coverage, relevance, and user-friendliness. Choosing the right database ensures efficient and reliable research.

NWACC Library Research Guides
Check out the librarian's Best Bets! Find the guide for your course, and consult the Find Your Sources page.
Research Databases A-Z
Browse and connect to all available NWACC Library databases on our A-Z list.

Limit our A-Z Databases list by subject, type of information, or vendor.

limit by subject, type or vendor

Choosing a Database
With so many library resources available to you online, it can be hard to determine where to begin your research and what sources best suit your needs. In this video, you’ll learn how to determine your assignment’s information need, locate the different types of library databases that are available for your use, and how to identify specific features of a database to determine if it meets your needs.

Examples -- Types of Databases

Subjects	Types	Vendors
Anatomy and Physiology	Background research	ABC-CLIO
Business	Biography	Credo Reference
Communications	Controversial Topics	EBSCO
Education	eBooks	Encyclopedia Britannica
Fine Arts	General Topics	Gale/Cengage Learning
History	News/Newspaper	JSTOR
Mathematics	Primary Sources	ProQuest
Psychology	Statistics	Salem Press
Science	Streaming Video & Audio	Wiley

Databases to get started

Academic Search Premier
This scholarly collection offers information in nearly every area of academic study including: computer sciences, engineering, physics, chemistry, language and linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences, ethnic studies, and many more.
College (Gale in Context)

Use this to: explore interdisciplinary academic content across various subjects.
Find: scholarly articles, magazines, news articles, reference overviews, primary sources, videos, audio clips, and images covering topics in arts, business, health, history, literature, science, and more.
Great for: getting background information on unfamiliar topics, finding diverse perspectives for essays, preparing for class discussions, locating credible sources for research assignments, or exploring various academic disciplines.
eBook Collection
There are more than 130,000 eBooks in this collection.
eLibrary Academic
Use this to: explore a vast collection of academic resources for comprehensive research across various disciplines.
Find: magazine and news articles, transcripts, reference books, images, maps, curated websites, videos, and interactive simulations. Features include editor-created Research Topics pages, text-to-speech, and language translation.
Great for: conducting in-depth research across multiple subjects, locating diverse source types for papers, accessing image and video content for presentations, or utilizing built-in tools for reading and translation.
Gale Research Complete

Use this to: explore Gale’s comprehensive collection of more than 50 research databases through a single, unified search platform.
Find: academic journals, peer-reviewed sources, magazines, news articles, eBooks, reports, images, videos, and audio.
Great for: conducting extensive interdisciplinary research, exploring multiple perspectives on complex topics, finding authoritative and diverse sources for any assignment, or leveraging a vast array of materials across subjects like literature, business, science, history, and beyond.
ProQuest Central
Serves as the central resource for researchers at all levels. Includes scholarly journals, trade publications, magazines, books, newspapers, reports and videos. *This is a Traveler resource. The Traveler Statewide Resource project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.