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Database
Introduction
Definitions 
Characteristic of Database
Types of online Databases
          On the Basis of Information Incorporated
                        Full-text online Databases
                        Reference Databases
                                 Bibliographic Databases
                                 Referral databases
                        Numeric Databases
                        Multimedia Databases
          On the Basis of Scope of Data
                        General Interest Database
                        Discipline Specific Databases
                        Subject Specific Databases
          On the Basis of contents
                         Article Database
                         Theses / Dissertation Database
                         Citation Database
                         Audio / Video Databases
                         Online Catalogue Databases
                         Dictionary Databases
                         Directory Databases
                         Indexing and Abstracking Databases
          On the Basis of Providers
                          Publisher / commercial Databases
                          Institutional Databases
                          Aggregator Databases
                                                                                                                                                                       

                                    Database                                

 Introduction                                                                                        

A database is an organized set of data stored in a computer that can be search automatically. 

 A database is a self describing collection of integrated records. It is self describing because it contains as part of itself a directory or dictionary of its context.

It is a collection of records or a file or a collection of files brought together as a single file commonly accessible by a given set of programme. 

 According to John Convey, databases are a collection of records in machine readable form that are made available for searching from remote computer terminals. 

 A database is an organized, integrated and often inter- related collection of computer based data, records files or information. 

 A random assortment of data cannot be referred to a database. Databases may be stored magnetic tape; optical  media such as CD-ROM, DVD ROM, and Hard Disk etc. can be accessed either locally remotely.


 Definitions                                                                                           

 ODLIS (2012) defines database as, "A large regularly updated file of digitized information (bibliographic records, abstracts, full-text documents directory entries images, statistics etc.) related to a specific subject on f ield, consisting of records of uniform format organized for ease and speed of search and retrieval and managed with the aid of database and with the aid of database mangement system (DBMS) software. Content is created by the database producer (for example, the american psychological association), which usually publishes a print version (psychological abstracts) and lease the content to one or more database vendors (EBSCO, OCLC etc.) that provide electronic access to the date after it has been converted to machine-readable form (PsycINFO), usually on CD-ROM or online via the internet, using proprietary  search software. 

 According to the Macmillan Dictionary of information Technology (2014) "Database is a collection of interrelated stored data so that it may be accessed by users with simple user friendly dialogues".

 The chambers science and technology dictionary (1999) defines database as "A Collection of structured data independent of any particular application". 

 The law dictionary (2012), define online databases as "A web-based filing system used to store information or records, accessible by using web scripts use often requires a paid subscription. 

 According to the University Santo Tomas (2008), "Online database are collections of computerized information or data such as articles, books, graphics and multimedia that can be searched to find information. Databases can be general or subject based in form of abstracts and our full text.


 Characteristic of Database                                                                  

 a. It is an organized, integrated collection  of data. 

 b It can be referred to by all relevant application with relative case and number. So duplication of data can be avoided. 

c. It is a model of natural relationship of the data in the read-world environment. 

d. Databases provide facilities for centralized control of accessing and security control functions. 

e. Databases provide facilities for centralized control of accessing and security control functions. 

 Other 

 i.organized collection.                                          

ii credibility Pricinger ) Up-to-Date 

 iii. Usability  

iv. Conversational 

 v. Expert System 

 vi. Controlled vocabulary 

 vii. Permanence 

 viii. Up-to-date 

 ix. Real Time 

 x. Time Sharing


 Types of online Databases                                                                  

Online databases are divided into the two main categories : Reference and Sources databases, on the basis of information in corporated in them. According to Choudhary (2010), online databases are categorized under the two major divisions include, reference database and source databases. Reference database direct seekers towards the source of information, while source database include actual information itself, on basis of contant, scope and the information incorporated, online databases are grouped under the following categories :  

 • On the Bases of Information Incorporated 

 •  On the Basis of Scope of Data

 • On the Basis of Contents 

 • On the Basis of Providers 


 i. On the Basis of Information Incorporated                                      

 Based on the information included in online databases, this category comprises the most common forms of online database which are grouped into following four types : 


   a. Full-text online Databases  

A full-text database is a compilation of documents or other information in the form of database in which complete text of each referenced document is available for online viewing, printing or downloading. In addition to. text documents, images are often included as graphs, maps, photos and diagrams. Full text online databases are comprising full text information of the publications that are basically either print or online in origen. It includes large files of text such as, all the paragraphs of a journal article or all the chapters from, a book along with abstract or citations of the text files incorporated in them. According to Bandyopadhyay (1999), Full text online databases are now being using as effective and important sources of periodical literature that are not usually available in local collection of libraries. Examples: ISTOR, Emeraldinsight and wiley online library etc. 


   b. Reference Databases   

 The References databases include terms descriptive of content on which retrieval is based and some databases also provide abstract to give brief description of original documents and in these databases the retrieval of information is mostly based on the words appeared in abstract. The retrieved data helps requester to identify where an original sources can then be found. (information storage and Retrieval 1829). The reference databases provide bibliographic description to published literature. It provides, documents. There databases are abstract references or citations to documents. The databases are divided into tow main categories. 


   i. Bibliographic Databases   

 Bibliographic database is one of the most important forms of reference databases. These databases are widely used as reference tools and provide citations or references, abstracts and index to published literature online bibliographic databases provide quick information about publications, which may or may not be available in library's own collection. These are the excellent means to access information, rather than merely an item of information in the collection of any library. Bibliographic databases contain elements of bibliographic description that used to describe books, journals, documents, and other publications or portions. Rice (1985) stated that these databases are typically online bibliographic files, are the online equivalent of print abstracts  and indexing services and mostly used for bibliographic verification of literature. Examples: LISA, Indian citation Index, Scopus and web of science etc.


  ii. Referral databases   

Referral database direct users towards the particulars of actual source of information i.e. names of a person or institution. It offers references to information such as name, address, specialization of persons, institutions, information system, and so forth. 

Examples: Ulrich's periodicals Directory and Electronic yellow pages. 


  c. Numeric Databases   

A numeric database is a computer-readable collection of data that are primarily numberic in nature. These are also known as the fact sources and non bibliographic databases and are mostly used for supporting business or financial research. These databases include arranged numerical data along with brief textual description and provide it access in the form of statistics, demographic and financial reports, stock market quotations chemical and physical properties, and chemical nomenclature and graphic structure, etc. These are the files of primarily statistical information from which a user can extract specific forms of data. 

Examples COMPUSTAT and ProQuest Statistical Insight. 


  d. Multimedia Databases   

A multimedia database is a collection of related multimedia data objects of different types. A multimedia database contains various data types such as images, sound recording, video recordings, signals, graphics togather with text data etc. Multimedia databases host different types of media file, such as text for documents, jpg used for images, swf deals with videos; mp3 use for generating audio files etc. These database involve the activities related to acquisition, generation, storation, processing and and transmission of multimedia data over networks. The databases primarily provide access to art prints, animations photos, audio clips, videos and others multimedia contents. 

Examples: Artstor and Academic video online. 


  2. On the Basis of Scope of Data                                                       

 Online database can be classified by the scope of information contained in them. 


   a. General interest Database   

 Such types of databases provide abroad range of information on different subject and disciplines. General interest databases comprise of information that is more general in nature, like current news and opinion, social and political affairs, cultural, educational, health and on public issues. 

Example - Academic search complete (EBSCO) and Encyclopaedia Britannica. 


 b. Discipline Specific Databases 

 Discipline based databases are some what more specific than general interest databases. These provide information on several related areas. If information is not found in general interest databases then it is better to search in such types of databases. 

Examples - SocINDEX and PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) 


  c. Subject Specific Databases  

 These database are well suited for in depth research and study on a particular topic. These databases provide information from professional publication and scholarly journals. The subject specific databases are devoted to only one subject. Searches in subject specific databases are more comprehensive in nature to provide access to more scholarly articles. 

Example: Historical abstracts and PsycINFO. 



  3. On the Basis of contents                                                                 

 Online  database can be organized according to the type of documents they possessed. 


  a. Article Database  

An article database allows a person to search, across thousands of various journals and magazines to locate an article on any specified subject. Articles databases mostly provide full text of articles but some time they also provide abstracts of articles. Some online databases only present citations instead of full text article or an abstract that helps to locate the original article. 

Example - Google Scholary and Annual Reviews. 


  b. Theses / Dissertation Database  

 Theses/ Dissertation databases are developed to maximize the visibility and availability of research output and to provide opportunities for further research. Such databases enable searching for dissertation and theses through a single access paint, which presents an extensive and authentic collection of millions of research works in full text. These databases are the record of doctoral theses or dissertations awarded by Higher Education institutions, 

Example - ProQuest Dissertation and theses and Ethos - Electronic Theses online service. 


  c. Citation Database  

 Citation database are index of citation of published literature. It enables to locate bibliographic citations for journal articles and track articles in a specific subject. It allows users to track which current documents cite which previous documents. Many citation databases include index of journal articles along with its abstracts. By searching with keywords that might appear in an article, users can retrieve citation of an article. 

Example Scopus and web of Science.


  d. Audio / Video Databases  

An audio video database is a collection of audio video materials such as digital audio and video data and audio video activities. 

Example -  Audiovisual Database of Spoken American English and Academic video online.


  e. Online Catalogue Databases   

An online catalogue database is a bibliographic database that describes the books, periodicals, and electronic resources, etc. that are available in the library. Online catalogues are those online database  that enable searchers to search for documents by author, title, subject heading, keyword, call number, or government documents number available in a particular library. 

Examples - Ind CAT and Worldcat. 


  f. Dictionary Databases  

 In dictionary databases, likewise of directory catalogue each record identifies something. The purpose of dictionary databases is to provide a measure of control in the use of bibliographic databases. 

Examples Oxford English Dictionary and Chemical Substance Dictionary. 


  g. Directory Databases  

 Directory databases offer the information of published directories or serve a purpose similar to that of published directories without having published equivalents. These are not full text databases although they may represent the complete text of a publication in machine readable form; nor are they numeric in nature. 

Examples - Electronic Yellow Pages and Encyclopedia of Associations. 


  h. Indexing and Abstracking Databases  

 These databas provide brief summary of publications along with descriptors as access points to documents. Such databases provide clues to the relevance and location of the publication. 

Example - SocINDEX and Educational. Research Abstracts Online (ERA)



   4. On the Basis of Providers                                                              

 Based on their providers online databases can be classified into the following categories. 


  a. Publisher / commercial Databases   

 Publisher databases are produced by online commercial service provider that sell their data to the clients and deliver information through the telecommunication networks. These databases are commercial electronic information services that people access through the web or internet. Anyone can download or electronically copy of the information contents from the internet, anywhere in the would through databases home page. To access such types of databases, searchers need to have an authorization number and password provided by the publishers. 

Example: Oxford University Press and Taylor and Francis


   b. Institutional Databases   

 These types of online databases are developed by the professional associations or institution to increase the knowledge of their concerned areas among the people. These associations mainly work for promoting research and developments in their working areas in the broadest manner. They develop different types of information sources to increase dissemination of knowledge related to their concerned areas, including books, journals, reports and databases etc. The online databases produced by them are mainly subject specific in nature. 

Example - PsycInfo (American Psychological Association) and Econlit (American Economic Association) 


  c. Aggregator Databases  

 Aggregator databases are defined as the service providers that make available contents, licensed by several publishers and is offered in packages at a single price to libraries. These offer extensive depth and breadth of contents of information along with effective features and functionalities.












                                                                     Notes                                                                









                                                                     Question                                                           

1. Emerald full text Database is published from 
A. USA                        B. Germany 
C. France                      D. U.K.
Ans: 

2. What is called database? 
A. Printed information sources                            B. Non-paper information sources
C. Non-printed information sources                    D. Electronic forms of printed sources
Ans:

3. SCOPUS is a/an 
A. Indexing Database        B. Numerical Database 
C. Full Text Database        D. Abstract and Citation Database
Ans:

4. What are numeric databases? 
A. Which have all kinds of numerals             B. Which have numeric information 
C. Which have statistical information            D. Which have numerals
Ans: 

5. Databases are bibliographic databases, because 
A. they have bibliographic details of documents 
B. they have details about source documents 
C. bibliography is presented 
D. they have record of bibliographic description
Ans: 

6. What is the function of reference database ? 
A. Provide references                               B. Indicate sources 
C. Indicate references with abstracts       D. Provide abstracts
Ans: 

7. What is the base of online searching? 
A. Information sources           B. Databases 
C. Microforms                        D. Books
Ans: 

8. Which of the following is the source database? 
A. The New York Times Via NEXIS                     B. MEDLARS 
C. WILSON LINE Indexing                                  D. Database produced by ERIC
Ans: 

9. Bibliographic databases can mainly be grouped into two categories? 
A. Word and meaning databases                          B. Numeric and digital databases 
C. Bibliographic and information databases        D. Reference and source databases
Ans: 

10. What is called the database which provides access of full text? 
A. Bibliographic database            B. Full text databases 
C. Numeric database                    D. Reference database
Ans: 

11. Mostly databases are prepared for 
A. periodicals                                                B. books 
C. abstracting and indexing periodicals       D. abstracting periodicals only
Ans: 

12. What are called source databases? 
A. Contain references                                         B. Contain abstracts 
C. Contain sources in addition to full text          D. Indicate references
Ans:

13. What is bibliographic database? 
A. Collection of data                                     B. List of books 
C. Collection of catalogue entries                 D. Collection of documents in machine readable form
Ans: 

14. Which is not correct about bibliographic databases? 
A. They contain bibliographic details of reference sources 
B. These have details about source documents 
C. These are of two kinds 
D. Self observation of original documents of cited sources is done
Ans: 

15. MEDLARS prepares which database? 
A. Index Medicus                            B. Physics Abstracts
C. Chemical Abstracts                    D. Biological Abstracts
Ans: 

16. What are called databases which contain statistical data in the form of tables? 
A. Numeric databases           B).Property databases 
C. Textual databases             D. Full text databases
Ans: 

17. What is not essential about the periodicals indexed in the database evaluation? 
A. Whether all the periodicals are taken or not 
B. Whether the rules regarding the use of database are given or not 
C. Whether the ISBD number is given or not 
D. Whether the addresses of publishers are recorded or not with their short names
Ans: 

18. Which type of database is CD-ROMs services like trade journals on disks? 
A. Reference database                             B. Graphic database 
C. Full text database                                D. Directory kind database
Ans: 

19. The databases are evaluated like the printed sources? 
A. Yes                                                     B No 
C. There is some other criteria also        D. It is done by other type of evaluation
Ans: 

20. Relational Database is 
A. A work which has some relationship to another work 
B. A symbol representing relationship between two concepts 
C. Manipulation commands which relate records in different fields 
D. All of the above
Ans: 

21. Assertion (A): Data base is a collection of interrelated data stored together. 
Reason (R): It is an organised, integrated collection of data. 
 Codes : 
A. Both (A) and (R) are false 
B. (A) is false, but (R) is true 
C. Both (A) and (R) are true 
D. (A) is true, but (R) is false
Ans: 

22. What is called that process which establishes contact between users and the information database?  A. Interface                    B. Off-line 
C. On-line                      D. Modem
Ans: 

23. The databases which contain a mixture of textual and numerical data (such as annual reports), handbook data, telephone directory, railway time table directory are called 
A. numeric                B. full text 
C. text-numeric         D. multimedia
Ans: 

24. Databases include information stored in a mixture of different types of media, including for instance sound, video, pictures, text, hypertext and animation are called 
A. multimedia databases                 B. bibliographics databases 
C. numeric databases                      D. textual databases
Ans: 

25. The database which provides access of full text of a document is called 
A. numeric                    B. full text 
C. reference                  D. bibliographic
Ans: 

26. The author of “Principles of Data Base System” is 
A. C.J. Datta                         B. B.P. Desai 
C. J.D. Ulmax                       D. J.M. Martin
Ans: 

27. The data portion of the data base along with the associated index is known as 
A. Dictionary              B. File 
C. Model                     D. Compiler
Ans: 

28. What type of service DIALOG is? 
A. Online                  B. Data 
C. Network               D. Computer
Ans: 

29. What was the name by which MEDLARS published before? 
A. Medica Index                             B. Index Medicus 
C. Index of N.L. of Medicine          D. Index of LC
Ans: 

30. By which name MEDLARS is now being provided on online? 
A. Index Medicus                     B. MEDline 
C. Medical Index                      D. Medaindex
Ans:

31. What is bibliographic database? 
A. Collection of data             B. Collection of catalogue entries 
C. List of books                     D. Collection of records in machine readable form
Ans: 

32. Books in Print is a national database, which has been developed by 
A. DELNET                     B. LISTSERV 
C. SERVLIST                  D. SERVANT
Ans: 

33. What does MEDLARS stand for? 
A. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System 
B. Medium Literature And Retrieval Service 
C. Medical Library And Retrieval System 
D. Medical Literature and Reprography Service
Ans: 

34. What is the name of full text database service of INSPEC? 
A. Full Text Database Service                    B. Electronic Materials Information Service 
C. Electronic Information Service              D. Physics Materials Service
Ans: 

35. Which organisation in Britain organised INSPEC?
A. British Library                               B. Library Association 
C. JANET Network                            D. Institute of Electrical Engineers
Ans: 

36. MEDLARS is related with which organisation? 
A. Library of Congress                                  B. British Library 
C. National Medical Library of USA             D. National Medical Library of India
Ans: 

37. COMPENDEX is the on-line Database on the subject 
A. Physics                                          B. Commerce and Export 
C. Analytical Chemistry                    D. Engineering
Ans: 

38. The smallest unit of data in a database is 
A. Record               B. File 
C. Field                   D. Table
Ans: 

39.  Match the following 
          List-I                                                                                                                            List-II 
a) Study of acquisition,handling & communication of information                        i. Intellectual property  
b) Author’s right to claim ownership  of a created work.                                         ii. Documentation  
c) Information stores on computer files, & accessible via a remote terminal & 
      telecommunication link.                                                                                        iii. Database 
Codes : 
    (a) (b) (c) 
A. (i) (ii) (iii) 
B. (ii) (i) (iii) 
C. (iii) (i) (ii) 
D. (ii) (iii) (i)
Ans: 

40. ADONIS is a 
i. Bibliographic database only               ii. Numerical database only 
iii. Full text database                              iv. None of the above 
A. (i) and (ii) are correct
B. (ii) and (iii) are correct 
C. (iii) is correct 
D. (iv) is correct
Ans: 

41. SCOPUS is a 
A. Full Text Database              B. Abstracts and Citation Database 
C. Numerical Database            D. None of the above
Ans: 

42.  Match the following 
           List-I                              List-II 
a. MEDLINE                          i. USA 
b. AGRICOLA                       ii. UK 
c. INFOTERRA                     iii. Nairobi 
d. ICDET                                iv. UK
Codes : 
    (a) (b) (c) (d) 
A. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) 
B. (iv) (iii) (i) (ii) 
C. (ii) (iii) (i) (iv) 
D. (ii) (iii) (i) (iv) 
Ans: 

43. Which of the following is a public domain database 
A. IMS                                      B. AGRIS 
C. Chemical Abstracts              D. MEDLINE
Ans: 

44.