How to Get Your ACC eID
The ACC Library has access to thousands of full-text e-books! Go to our page on Online eBooks for more information, to see a list of our vendors, and to start reading!
Thousands of our e-books are even downloadable, so you can read them on your (compatible) device!
Find out how to download some of our e-books to your computer or compatible device.
In the most general sense, a database is a collection of data organized to be manipulated (input, edited, updated, deleted) and retrieved in some form by the user. Even when shopping online, you are retrieving information from a database.
"Library Databases" is a convenient name for collections (the library has subscribed to) of published information -- books, articles, videos, music, citations to articles, and other resources -- usually in electronic format. These are collections of higher quality online resources. They are just like using the web, but with quality control of the content and, usually, extra features, such as the ability to e-mail content, generate citations, translate into other languages, etc. ACC Library Services subscribes to dozens of these databases.
The library databases can be searched for information on a topic by keyword, subject, author, title, and phrase. By using them, you boost your chances of finding good quality sources that have gone through some quality control measures. And, many of the results are available in full-text that you can download or email to yourself.
Google and other search engines can be useful for many purposes. However, your instructors want you to complete assignments using credible, often "scholarly" or "peer-reviewed" sources. Library databases offer sources that have gone through some quality control and can be limited that criteria. Google and other search engine results must be carefully evaluated for accurate and competent authorship.
Most databases feature a check box on the results page so you can retrieve only articles that are from peer-reviewed, academic or scholarly journals. Look for a checkbox to limit your search results to scholarly or peer-reviewed journals only. (You can search Library Databases directly by choosing a database or from the library home page.)
For a quick search:
The Library subscribes to thousands of educational streaming videos and music. You can access them from any device with internet access. Off campus, you'll use your ACC eID to get in.
Page Editor: Margaret Peloquin Sep 2019