How to Search Library Databases
Updated November 6, 2026
To search a library database, break your topic into keywords, connect them with AND or OR, and then use filters like date and peer reviewed. JSTOR, EBSCO, and ProQuest all work this way. Once you learn the basics, you can use almost any database your school offers.
Find the right database
Go to your library’s website and look for a link called Databases or Articles. Most libraries sort them by subject. You’ll log in with your student account, even from home.
Three names come up often. What you can see in each one depends on what your library pays for.
| Service | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| JSTOR | An archive of journals, books, and primary sources | A journal’s newest issues may be missing because of a delay called the moving wall |
| EBSCO | A company that runs many databases, like Academic Search | Your library picks which ones you get |
| ProQuest | A company that runs many databases, including news and dissertations | Filters can differ from one database to the next |
Not sure where to begin? Ask a librarian which database fits your class.
Step 1: Turn your question into keywords
Databases look for your words, so skip full sentences. Take your question and keep the main ideas.
Say your question is “Do college students who work have lower grades?” Your keywords are "college students", employment, and grades.
Now add other words for each idea. An author might write “academic performance” or “GPA” where you’d write “grades.” If you search only one word, you’ll miss those papers.
Step 2: Connect keywords with Boolean operators
Boolean operators are three small words that tell the database how to combine your keywords. Type them in all caps.
| Operator | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| AND | Narrows your search. Results have all your words. | "college students" AND employment |
| OR | Widens your search. Results have at least one of your words. | grades OR GPA |
| NOT | Removes results that have a word. | "social media" NOT Facebook |
Use NOT with care. It can remove a good paper that mentions the word only once.
Put your OR words in parentheses so the database groups them:
"college students" AND employment AND (grades OR GPA OR "academic performance")
Step 3: Use symbols to catch more words
Quotation marks keep a phrase together. An asterisk catches different word endings, so educat* finds education, educator, and educated.
Each service has its own symbols for the fancier moves:
| Task | JSTOR | EBSCO | ProQuest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Different endings | educat* |
educat* |
educat* |
| One unknown letter | wom?n |
wom?n |
wom?n |
| Two words near each other | "debt forgiveness"~10 |
debt N10 forgiveness |
debt NEAR/10 forgiveness |
In ProQuest, the asterisk stands for up to five letters. In JSTOR, wildcards don’t work inside an exact phrase.
JSTOR can also show keyword results or semantic results. Boolean operators and wildcards work only with keyword results.
Step 4: Search specific fields
Open Advanced Search. You’ll see drop-down menus next to each search box. These let you search in one field, such as the title, author, or abstract.
Searching the title field is a quick way to cut noise. If your keyword is in the title, the paper is probably about that topic.
Step 5: Use filters
Filters usually sit beside your results. These are the ones you’ll use most.
| Filter | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Date | Your topic changes fast, or your professor set a limit |
| Peer reviewed | Your professor wants peer-reviewed sources |
| Source type | You want only journals, books, or news |
| Full text | You need something to read tonight |
Be careful with the full-text filter. It can hide good articles your library could get for you.
EBSCO and ProQuest both offer a peer-review filter. JSTOR doesn’t. Nearly all of its journals are peer reviewed, but it also holds primary sources and much older content. If your professor needs peer review, confirm it on the journal’s website.
Step 6: Learn from one good result
When you find a great article, open its full record. Look for the subject terms. These are the labels the database uses for that topic. Click one, or add it to your search.
Then read the article’s reference list. A single good paper can give you a new set of keywords and sources.
Step 7: Save your work
Most databases let you save, email, or cite a result. Copy the permalink instead of the address in your browser bar, since those long links can stop working.
The Cite button gives you a draft. Check it against the article before you use it.
Fix a bad search
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Too many results | Add a keyword, search the title field, or shorten the date range |
| Too few results | Remove a keyword, add OR words, or try another database |
| Off-topic results | Use subject terms, or add one NOT term |
| Can’t open an article | Click your library’s Find It link, or ask about interlibrary loan |
A good result still needs a check, so learn how to tell if a source is credible. It also helps to search outside the library. Google Scholar is good for a broad look, and the free source finder from Sourcefox gives you a quick place to try your keywords. For the full process, see how to find sources for a research paper.
Common questions
What is a library database?
It’s a searchable collection of articles, books, or other sources. Your school usually pays for access. That’s why you can read articles there that would cost money on the open web.
Can I use library databases from home?
Usually, yes. Start from your library’s website and log in with your student account. If a site asks you to pay, go back and start from the library’s page.
Do AND, OR, and NOT have to be in capital letters?
Type them in capitals to be safe. JSTOR and ProQuest both tell you to, and EBSCO lets each library decide. Capitals work in all three.