Databases Explained

What they are...

• Databases are collections of magazine, newspaper and journal articles that you can use to write reports or research a topic. Many of these databases will give you the full text of an article.
• A database is not the same thing as the Internet. WCLS purchases these databases through subscriptions and only people with a WCLS or Bellingham library card can access them.
• WHICH DATABASE?
  • Biography Resource Center for your biography or history project
  • Contemporary Authors or Literature Resource Center for English class
  • Facts.com for current events and recent history
  • elibrary Elementary as a place to start. Check out the photographs that you can find.
  • Issues and Controversies for reports showing both sides of an argument.
  • General Reference Center or Proquest for almost anything you can think of... country reports, historical reports and current issues and events.

• WCLS's databases can be accessed by anyone with a WCLS or Bellingham library card
• You can get to them from ANY computer with an Internet connection. You don't need to be at the library.
• To get started, click here or click on the "Databases" button on the left navigation bar.
• Choose the library where your card is from WCLS or Bellingham.
• Enter the barcode on the back of your card and login.

What to do with what you got...

Citing Electronic Resources - IMPORTANT If you use information from a database or a web site for a paper or project you need to give credit where credit is due. Otherwise you will be committing PLAGIARISM. This link will help you know how to cite database and web site information.

Citing Print and Other Resources - King County Library System does a nice job of giving you the basics for citing your work.