Google or Library Databases?

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A common question students have is, “Why do I need to know about library databases when I can find everything I need using Google?” The short answer is: Library databases have a lot more scholarly research content than Google (even including Google Scholar), they have more search functions to help you find exactly what you need, and, since the information has been reviewed before it’s published, you’re less likely to come across misinformation in library databases. In addition, library databases contain direct links to content that you can access with your UWNetID.

Google and Google Scholar are great supplementary resources depending on your information needs and situation. If you’re using Google Scholar, make sure you connect it to your UW Libraries account so you can access paywalled articles. You can learn more about using Google Scholar with these help tips or by watching this video.

When you need to find scholarly, peer-reviewed, or academic sources, for example, to bolster an argument in a paper, or make a medical decision, library databases are your best bet. They are curated collections of research articles, often grouped by discipline. The UW Libraries has over 600 databases, so the next question is, where do you start? You can see some recommended starting points by looking at the flowchart below.

Are you doing a general search? Try UW Libraries Search. Are you looking for peer-reviewed journal articles? Try databases like Academic Search Complete or Web of Science. If not, try exploring a research guide.