Locating Article Databases

This tutorial will explain how you can search by name or by subject/topic to locate the hundreds of databases the UW-Madison Libraries license/subscribe to.

Searching for a Database by Name

1. Start at the UW-Madison Libraries homepage, select the word “Catalog” above the large search box. This will open a drop-down menu.
2. Select “Databases” from the drop-down menu.
3. Type the name of an article database into the search box and select the “Submit” button.
4. From the list of results, select the name of the article database. You will be taken to a new page.
5. Select “Access Database” in the right column of the new page and the database will open.

Searching for a Database by Topic

1. Start at the UW-Madison Libraries homepage, select the “Catalog” above the large search box. This will open a drop-down menu.
2. Select “Databases” from the drop-down menu.
3. Select the “Browse by Subject/Type” link under the search bar.
4. Select an area that fits your research area. Each subject page contains a list of many article databases.
   1. These are divided into Core Databases, which contain information closely related to the subject area, and Also Helpful Databases, which are sometimes very specific and sometimes more peripherally related to the subject.
5. Select a database name to see the time span as well as subjects and types of materials covered in that database.
6. To use the database, select “Access Database” underneath the database name in the search results, or once you have selected the database name and arrived at the database information page.