What is a database?

A collection of information

organized in such a way

that information can be quickly and easily accessed.

A database is:

A DATABASE IS A COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ABOUT SIMILAR ITEMS.

FOR EXAMPLE,YOU COULD HAVE A DATABASE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WENT TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

ALL OF THE COMBINED INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR STUDENT IS CALLED:

A RECORD.

ALL OF THE PIECES OF INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON ARE PLACED INTO THE PARTS OF A RECORD CALLED:

FIELDS

EXAMPLES OF FIELDS: NAMEADDRESSFAVORITE TEACHER

OUR HIGH SCHOOL DATABASE WOULD COLLECTTHE SAME INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE RECORD FOR LARRY JONES.

NAME: LARRY JONES

ADDRESS: 741 PAMONA DRIVE

FAVORITE TEACHER: MS. WILSON

REMEMBER

A RECORD IS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS CALLED FIELDS.

WE COULD CREATE A DATABASE FOR THE LOCAL BIRDS

TO SET UP OUR BIRD DATABASE WE NEED TO DECIDE WHICH FIELDS WE WANT.

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EACH RECORD IS DIVIDED INTO SMALLER PARTS CALLED FIELDS.

THE INFORMATION IN A RECORD IS PLACED INTO SEPARATE FIELDS.

THE SOUTH GEORGIA TECH LIBRARY HAS A DATABASE THAT CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THE LIBRARY’S BOOKS.

library.southgatech.edu

THE DATABASE HAS A RECORD FOR EVERY BOOK IN THE LIBRARY.

THE INFORMATION ABOUT A BOOK IS PUT INTO SUB-SECTIONS CALLED FIELDS.

ALL RECORDS HAVE THE SAME FIELDS.

EACH RECORD CONSISTS OF FIELDS.

EACH RECORD HAS THE SAME FIELDS

THIS IS A DATABASE FOR PATIENTS STAYING IN A HOSPITAL.

TO RETRIEVE INFORMATION FROM A DATABASE, YOU CAN USE A SEARCH BOX.

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH TERMS AND CLICK ON “SEARCH”.

The search box provides a way for users to quickly and easily find information.

A search box limits the search to the most important fields in the record .

A basic search of the database will be limited to the title, author, and subject fields.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FIELDS THAT WILL NOT BE SEARCHED.

THIS IS A RECORD FROM THE LIBRARY DATABASE.

BY RESTRICTING A SEARCH TO THE MOST IMPORTANT FIELDS IN A RECORD, THE SEARCH BOX WILL OFTEN PROVIDE A SEARCHER WITH A NUMBER OF RESULTS DEALING WITH HIS OR HER TOPIC.

YOU CAN CONDUCT AN ADVANCED SEARCH WHERE YOU WILL DECIDE WHICH FIELDS WILL BE SEARCHED.

FOR EAMPLE, THE SGTC LIBRARY DATABASE, PROVIDES FOR AN ADVANCED SEARCH.

GO TO: library.southgatech.edu

CLICK ON ADVANCED SEARCH

THIS IS WHAT THE ADVANCED SEARCH PAGE LOOKS LIKE.

THIS PAGE ALLOWS YOU TO LIMIT YOUR SEARCH TO A PARTICULAR FIELD OR A PARTICULAR BRANCH OF THE LIBRARY.

TO LIMIT YOUR SEARCH TO ONE FIELD , ENTER YOUR SEARCH TERM AND THEN CHOOSE THE FIELD YOU WANT TO SEARCH.

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF LIMITED SEARCHES.

SUPPOSE WE ONLY WANTED RECORDS FOR ITEMS THAT HAVE “OPRAH WINFREY” IN THE TITLE.

SUPPOSE WE ONLY WANT RECORDS ABOUT SWIMMING.

SUPPOSE WE ONLY WANT RECORDS FOR BOOKS WRITTEN BY SUE GRAFTON

AN ADVANCED SEARCH ALLOWS YOU TO COMBINE DIFFERENT SEARCH TERMS.

IN THIS EXAMPLE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RECORDS THAT:

HAVE THE WORD “WILSON” IN THE AUTHOR FIELD

HAVE THE WORD “CINCINNATI” IN THE SUBJECT FIELD

DO NOT HAVE THE WORD “BENGALS ” IN THE TITLE FIELD

http://www.galileo.usg.edu

Your database skills can be used in GALILEO.

A collection of databases provided to us by the State of Georgia.

You can access GALILEO on the SGTC campus without having to use a password.

If you want to use GALILEO off-campus, you will need to have the current password.

To get the password call: 229-931-2562.