Library FAQs: Housatonic

The library's research databases are specialized digital collections of scholarly content - like academic journals, research papers, and expert reports - that have been organized for research purposes.  These databases are often specialized collections focused on specific academic subjects.

The library's catalog is like a central search hub - when you search there, it looks across many places, including the library's physical collection (books, DVDs, etc.) AND most of the library's database content, all as one search.

A library catalog and the library's research databases are both important tools for finding academic sources, but they serve different purposes in your research journey.

When to use each:

The catalog is particularly useful when you're starting a research project or exploring a new topic.

Example: If you're beginning a paper on "social media influence on body image," searching the catalog first gives you a helpful overview, which can help you understand what types of sources are available and which specific databases might be most useful for deeper research.

The databases are more specialized and provide access to academic journals and other scholarly content. While the catalog will show you database articles, searching directly in a relevant database like JSTOR or PsycINFO gives you:

1. More detailed search options specific to the field that database specializes in
2. Special features designed for the type of research specific to that field
3. The ability to use field-specific filters and limiters

For example, if you're researching depression in teenagers, a catalog search will give you a mix of books and many types of articles, reports, other resources. But searching directly in the PsycINFO database lets you use psychology-specific options like limiting to empirical studies, filtering by age group, or focusing on specific therapeutic approaches - features you won't get through the catalog.