Notes: What are databases?

A database is a place that holds information. The word combines:
- data: information or numbers
- base: a location or repository
In short: a database stores data in an organized way for retrieval and use.

Not all information in databases is available to the general public.
Some databases contain personal records (health, marriage, birth records) and are restricted.
Information has value; access often requires credentials or special authorization.

Surface web
- What it includes: most widely used browsers (Chrome, Bing, Safari, Firefox) help you search online.
- Contains many credible sources but also junk; not all information on the surface web is free or credible.
- Examples of surface web content: .com sites (e.g., Walmart, Target), social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat), blogs, Wikipedia, newspapers.
- Metaphor: surface web is like the visible, easily navigable part of the web; there is more beneath the surface.
Deep web
- Contains databases and other content not indexed by standard search engines.
- Information here is often credible and trustworthy and can be valuable for research.
- Access to the deep web typically requires credentials (e.g., student ID number and PIN in this context).
- Databases host sources like books, magazines, newspapers, and scholarly articles.

Start at the LA Mission College website: http://www.lamission.edu
Navigate to the library resources:
- Click the library icon on the home page, or
- Click "Students" and then select "Library."
In the library homepage, click on "Databases" to access library databases.

Library databases include a range of options organized by scope:
- Multi-subject databases: best for searching across multiple topics.
- Example use: you might search for information on gun control and diabetes in the same database.
- Specialized databases: focused on particular formats or subjects (newspapers, ebooks, subject-specific databases).
As you scroll, you’ll find more specialized databases tailored to specific classes or topics.
Practical tip: Based on your topic, choose the database that yields the most relevant results; select the best one for your needs.

Databases do not work the same way as Google search.
You need to use keywords to query databases effectively.
Keywords are crucial for locating relevant credible sources within a database.
The technique for keyword searching and more advanced strategies will be covered in the next tutorial.

Databases provide access to credible, trustworthy information, often not freely accessible on the surface web.
They are essential for academic research papers and assignments.
Access often requires institutional credentials (e.g., student ID, PIN) to protect sensitive information.

To begin using LA Mission databases:
- Go to http://www.lamission.edu
- Click the library icon or go via Students → Library
- Click "Databases" to view available options
Start with multi-subject databases for broad topics; then drill down to subject-specific databases as needed.
Use keywords carefully to navigate databases; expect differences from general web search engines.
Remember: some information is restricted and requires proper credentials to access.

Information has value; not all information on the web is free or credible.
Access controls protect sensitive information (e.g., personal records) and require legitimate credentials.
Using credible databases supports academic integrity and high-quality research practices.
Privacy considerations: handling of personal data (e.g., student IDs, PINs) must be secure and restricted to authorized users.