A guide to understanding and using the Library's A-Z Databases
Introducing the new A-Z Databases with a more user-friendly interface and a range of new features and information. Explore this page to find out what's new or for help with searching and filtering.
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The Library's A-Z Databases is a comprehensive list of all the databases available onsite at the Library and from home with your Library membership. It also includes a collection of free websites selected by our Librarians to support your research. These databases and websites provide access to a wide range of resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, newspapers, magazines, journals articles, primary sources, images, music, and much more.
You can use A-Z Databases to explore these resources, with options to search using keywords or browse by subject, type or vendor (i.e., database providers or publishers). The A-Z Databases is also where you'll find information about any databases the Library is trialling or any new databases that have been recently acquired.
If you have any questions about using A-Z Databases or accessing databases through the Library, you can contact the Library through our Ask a Librarian service.
A-Z Databases has been updated with a fresh look and feel, improving your experience with a more user-friendly interface.
Alongside this new look and feel, there are some new features and additional content helping you to find, access and use the databases and websites available through the Library. Explore each of these by selecting the following tabs.
Each database now has its own landing page. These landing pages will be progressively updated with information to support how you use and access these resources.
From late-November, you will start to see details about accessibility features included with database information (see below).
Prominent alert messages will now advise you of any known issues affecting user experience or access to databases (see below). These alerts will direct you to the Library's System Status dashboard for more information.
Revamped content on the sidebar provides you with information that supports access to the databases and websites available through A-Z Databases, this includes:
The search bar at the top of the A-Z Databases page can help you find a database or website suited to your research or area of interest. There are a number of search and filtering options available. Select the following tabs to explore each of these.
You can use these options in many different combinations. When starting a new search, remember to first Clear Filters. If you do not see the results you expected, then clear your filters and start again.
If you are new to using the Library's online resources and are not sure where to begin, then the list of Recommended Databases is a great place to start. Click on this link to browse through some of the most popular databases across different subject areas and material types.
A Title / Keyword search will find any resources that include your search terms in the resource's title or description. To find a particular database, enter the title - for example, "PressReader" - and then click Search. You can also search using keywords related to a topic of interest; for example, "tourism".
This search is an exact match, which means that the results will not include any variations of your search terms. For example, "tour", "tours", "tourism", "touring" and "tourist" may all have different sets of results. To include variations in your search, you can use the wildcard symbol (*). Searching for "tour*" will include all of the variations listed above.
Databases and websites in the A-Z Databases are categorised into different subject areas. Select a subject and then click Search to display resources related to the selected subject area. You can select multiple subjects to broaden your search results. For example, if you select both "History - Australian" and "Literature", resources related to either Australian history OR literature will be displayed.
The type filter includes a mixed of different categories, including material type, audiences, and access modes (where and how you access a resource). Each of these types are explained below. As with the subject filter, you can select multiple types to broaden your search results.
| Type | What this means |
|---|---|
| Access from home with State Library membership | These resources can be accessed from home by Victorian residents with a current Library membership. If visiting onsite at the Library though, anyone can access these and no membership login is required. |
| Free website available to all | Anyone can access these resources; you do not need to be a Library member. They include a wide range of online content curated by Librarians to support your research. |
| Access only at the Library | You must be onsite at the Library and be either using a Library computer or connected the Library Wi-Fi to access these resources. |
| Ask staff for access | These resources are only available onsite at the Library and a staff member will need to assist in providing access. For assistance, ask staff at the Ask a Librarian desk in the Redmond Barry Reading Room. |
| Downloadable ebooks | Ebook databases that allow you to download, or "borrow", an ebook to read offline on your device. You will need a compatible device and software. For help, view the Ebooks: using our ebook collection guide. |
| Primary sources | Primary source material, such as letters, diaries, photographs, and other archival records. |
| Secondary students | Databases offering content that is designed or suitable for use by secondary students. |
| Streaming audio | Streaming audio databases include popular music, classical music, folk music, audiobooks, and spoken word content. |
| Streaming video | Streaming video databases include videos of music performances (opera, ballet, live concerts), early film, documentaries, and newsreels. |
| Trial databases | Current database trials available for a limited time only. |
Vendors are the providers or publishers who manage database content. If you are looking for databases from a particular vendor, you can select their name from this list and click Search. Different vendors have different areas of specialty, so filtering by vendor can also be a useful way of finding particular types of content. For example, Informit focus on Australian content, Naxos on streaming music and video, and Adam Matthew on primary source material.
If you know the title of the database you are looking for, you can also browse alphabetically by selecting the first letter of the title. If you are looking for a resources that starts with an article - e.g., "The" -, ignore the article and select the first letter of the next word. For example, to find "The Age" select 'A'.
Are you having issues accessing a database? Do you need help with a research query?
Contact us through our Ask a Librarian service.
Databases are collections of online content, sometimes also referred to as 'electronic resources' or 'e-resources'. These collections are managed by an external provider, or vendor, and the Library purchases or subscribes to this content to provide access to our members. Databases can include many different kinds of content, from articles and ebooks to digitised archival material and streaming music or videos.
The A-Z Databases includes three types of resources:
