Related Guide: Quickly Evaluate a Website
You're probably used to using Google to find information. However, when you are asked to do academic research, your instructor will expect you to go beyond Google and use the library. Why?
| The Library | |
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Library resources are carefully reviewed and chosen by librarians for things like reliability, relevance, and value. Use the library to:
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Information found on Google does not go through a consistent review process. Anyone can publish to the web, which makes it hard to determine credibility, relevance and value. You can also be asked to pay for information (like newspaper, magazine, and journal articles) you find using Google. Use Google or another search engine:
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Adapted from UC Santa Cruz Nettrail, University of California, Santa Cruz NetTrail Development Team
Google or Library Databases?
Different research scenarios are described below. The ✔ indicates which tool or tools will get you to the information most efficiently.
| What are you looking for? | Library Databases | |
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A scholarly article written by an expert in your area of study |
✔ |
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An article from the New York Times |
✔
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An article from Newsweek |
✔ |
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Today's news |
✔ | |
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Older News |
✔ |
✔ (Infotrac Newsstand, Michigan Digital Newspaper Portal, New York Times, OmniFile) |
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A government report |
✔ | |
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Company or Industry Information |
✔ |
✔ |
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Encyclopedia Articles |
✔ |
|
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A movie review |
✔ | |
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A biography |
✔ (Biography In Context, African American Experience, Latino American Experience) |
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Today's stock quote |
✔ |
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Maps and directions |
✔ | |
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Statistical facts and data |
✔ | |
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A law review |
✔ |
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A Scholarly Book |
✔ |
Adapted from Fast Track: Google, Summon, or Database, Bowling Green State University Libraries