Frequently Asked Questions About the Online/Full-text Databases

Common questions about our databases are answered below. To see a list of databases available to Webster/Eden students, faculty, and staff, visit our main database page. For information about access to the databases and tips for searching, see our Help With the Online/Full-text Databases page.

Using Databases for Research

Are "full-text" databases" better to use than ones that aren't full-text?

Not necessarily. Some non-fulltext databases do a better job of covering a particular subject area. See the section on locating materials not provided full-text for information about obtaining resources that are listed in non-fulltext databases.

Does an article from a database count as an "Internet source" or web site?

It depends. Always talk to your instructor to clarify what is meant by "Internet source." In most cases, the articles you find in one of our databases are just electronic versions of traditional journals that your instructors would like you to use. The full-text, electronic version of an article available through one of our databases is usually identical to the paper version of the same article.

Types of Information Available in the Databases

Do these databases contain articles from scholarly journals? How can I tell if an article is from a scholarly journal?

Many databases offer a mixture of "scholarly journals" and more general or "popular" magazines. If you're not sure how to tell the difference, check out our How do I Recognize a Scholarly Article? page. Also helpful is the "Popular Versus Scholarly Journals" table from Davidson College.

Many databases give you the option to limit your search to more scholarly sources. Look at the database search screen for an option to select "refereed" or "peer-reviewed" journals.

Do the databases only list magazine and journal articles? Are other types of materials covered as well?

Some databases only cover magazines and journals; others cover a variety of materials (e.g. books, pamphlets, reports, etc.). Some databases are electronic versions of dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, directories, and so on. For information about a particular database, check the description provided on our alphabetical list of databases page.

Finding Full-Text Sources in the Databases

Are so-called "full-text" databases really 100 percent full-text?

Not always. In many cases, only a percentage of the magazines and journals are covered in their entirety. Many databases are also selective in the articles they reproduce from a magazine or journal. They may only provide the feature articles and may omit less important articles or columns.

How can I determine if a specific periodical is available full-text in one of the databases offered through Passports?

Check our comprehensive Journals/Magazines/Newspaper List to see the titles either available full-text in our online databases or in paper/microform at the library. If a periodical is available online, you will see a link directly to the database which has the full-text.

Locating Materials Not Provided Full-Text

Does the Eden-Webster Library System subscribe to all of the magazines and journals listed in the databases?

We wish! Unfortunately, the library only receives a small percentage of the publications covered by any database.

What if an article I need is not available full-text in any of the databases? How can I obtain a copy of it?

For titles not available in full-text, Webster/Eden students, faculty, and staff should:

1. Check our Journal/Magazines/Newspaper List to see if the Eden-Webster Library System subscribes to the publication.
2. Utilize our document delivery service (extended campuses or online degree programs) and interlibrary loan service (St. Louis area campuses) to request materials.

You also have the option to check local libraries, especially those at colleges and universities, to see if they have the publication you need. Another possibility is to see if the publication is available through its own Internet site.