HeyU Issue 31 - 24 June 2015 | Page 7

DATABASE REVIEW Britannica Online www.britannica.com.au I’m a self-confessed Google junkie; whenever I don’t know how to spell a word or I need directions – I just ‘Google it.’ When it comes to uni assignments, however, I’ve learned you need to approach things a little bit differently. This is where databases come in. Britannica’s Online Academic Edition is great for background information and definitions. When you search, it provides a lengthy list of possible options that may be useful to you. Often, definitions are accompanied by a brief history and explanations of difficult concepts. Perfect for that tricky assignment! Its user-friendly home page is easy to read and navigate, offering a number of links to different parts of the website including biographies, ebooks and primary sources, media collection and more. Another part of the website I really enjoyed (I was procrastinating) was the Spotlights feature. Specifically, this one had a ‘Guide to Shakespeare’ which had detailed, interesting information that was a fun way to spend my study break. The Library has thousands of databases listed on VIEW ON ITUNES their website so make sure you check it out. These databases are often specific to your area of study, making it really easy to get quality, accurate and reliable information at just the click of a button. WORDS: KAITLIN CAMPBELL – USQ Stu FV