Choosing & Accessing Databases
Video Transcript (PDF) | Video Transcript (.docx)
Databases should be accessed through the Library's website to ensure that you are properly authenticated and have full access to our subscriptions.
If you already know the name of a database you want to search ...
- use Omni or select Databases on the Library home page
- type the name of the database in the search box (e.g., Business Source Premier)
- submit your search
- in the results list, click the database title to connect to it
If you’re not sure which database to search ...
- select Databases on the Library home page
- choose a subject area from the drop-down list
- there are approximately 50 subject areas listed which generally correspond with the academic departments and programs at McMaster
- in the results list, review the database descriptions (click the
icon for a full description) to determine which database is right for your research topic
- database descriptions can include details about date coverage (e.g., current or historical), geographic coverage (e.g., Canadian, U.S., international), source types (e.g., journals, reports, videos,) and other notes
- overwhelmed? too many databases to pick from? Select the database(s) highlighted in the Best Bets box at the top of the results list - they should get you off to a good start
- once you’ve found a database you want to search, click the database title to connect to it