BUT MY PROFESSOR SAID

not to use the internet . . .

When your professor gives you an assignment he/she may tell you not to use the Internet to find your sources. How are you supposed to do that when the Library catalog and article databases are all online?

When your professor says "Internet" he/she means free Internet sites that are available to anyone through a Google or Yahoo search. Some Internet sites are for entertainment; some are for academic research. Others may be commercials or post opinions, and some even intentionally give out false information. These are the sites your professor doesn't want you to use. Some sites are reliable--those ending in .gov, org, and .edu are usually reputable and trustworthy.

The Library Catalog and databases are online but are different than the Internet. When librarians refer to "online databases" we mean databases the Library pays for and approved by librarians. These online databases are accessed through the Internet. The words online and Internet are often used interchangeably and while you can't be online without the Internet, they are not the same thing. Being online means you are connected to or served by a computer system - like the Library's server. The Internet is the network that connects computer systems worldwide.

How do I know if it is a Library Database?

Library databases are things like EBSCOHost, Lexis-Nexis, and JSTOR. If you access the database through the Library Web site, it is a resource purchased by the Library.