Monday, November 06, 2006

a few Frequently Asked Questions about the Frank Lowy Library

When is the library open?
See the opening hours here.

What is a database?
A database, in the library context, is a powerful research tool. They contain articles and profiles and other documents from premium content providers. The content from databases typically is not available in search engines such as Google. For example, it is very difficult to find full-text articles from the Harvard Business Review in Google, because this content is not free and is available only in databases such as Business Premier. Some databases contain newspaper and journal articles, others have company information and financials, or industry and market information. Databases usually offer more sophisticated searching options. On the other hand, they are not as simple as Google and require some time and effort to learn.

Why bother with databases if everything is on Google?
As mentioned above, not everything is on Google. Most books have not been digitized, only a number of periodicals are freely available via Google. Even if one is looking for internet-only materials, not all of it is available via Google. It is always a good idea to try the other major search engines Ask.com, MSN and Yahoo, as there is not as much overlap between the search engines as most people believe.

How do I use the library's databases?
Once logged into the library, choose the databases page. If the database does not seem intuitive to you, take a moment to read the research guide or ask a librarian.

What fee-based and consultancy services does the library offer?
The Frank Lowy Library runs the Business Information Service.

1 comment:

deir u 2 muv said...

A library should have a stable internet connection to supply to the needs of the visitors. Administrators should check with their broadband provider to know if the plan is enough to sustain the library's connection needs.