Bibliographic database
A bibliographic database is a specialized type of database that contains references to academic and scholarly literature, including books, journal articles, conference papers, theses, patents, reports, and other types of publications. These databases serve as comprehensive collections of bibliographic information, allowing researchers, students, and professionals to access and search for relevant literature within their field of study.
Here are some key characteristics and features of bibliographic databases:
Bibliographic records: Each entry in a bibliographic database is a bibliographic record that represents a single publication. It typically includes metadata about the publication, such as the title, author(s), publication date, source, abstract, keywords, and citation information.
Subject coverage: Bibliographic databases cover a wide range of subjects and disciplines, including sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, medicine, and more. Each database may focus on specific subject areas or have multidisciplinary coverage.
Indexing and abstracting: Bibliographic databases index and abstract the content of the publications they include. Indexing involves assigning standardized terms or keywords to facilitate search and retrieval, while abstracts provide concise summaries of the publication's content.
Search functionality: Users can search bibliographic databases using various search criteria, such as keywords, author names, publication titles, publication year, and subject categories. Advanced search options allow for complex queries to refine search results.
Citations and references: Bibliographic databases often include information about citations and references within publications. This allows users to identify related works, follow citation trails, and understand the impact and influence of a particular publication.
Full-text access: Some bibliographic databases provide links to full-text versions of publications directly from the database interface. In other cases, they may provide information on how to access the full text through libraries, publishers, or other sources.
Authority control: Bibliographic databases use authority control to maintain consistency in author names, journal titles, and subject headings. This helps prevent variations in naming conventions and ensures accurate and reliable search results.
Interoperability: Many bibliographic databases adhere to standardized formats and protocols, such as MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging), BibTeX, or Dublin Core, which enable interoperability and data exchange with other systems.
Academic journals and publishers: Bibliographic databases often collaborate with academic publishers and journals to include their content. Major databases may also offer access to large collections of peer-reviewed literature.
Examples of well-known bibliographic databases include: • PubMed: Focuses on biomedical and life sciences literature.
• Scopus: Provides multidisciplinary coverage of scholarly literature.
• Web of Science: Covers various academic disciplines and provides citation analysis tools.
• IEEE Xplore: Specializes in engineering and technology literature.
• ERIC (Education Resources Information Center): Focuses on education-related literature.
Bibliographic databases play a crucial role in research and academia by facilitating access to scholarly literature, supporting literature reviews, citation analysis, and helping researchers stay informed about the latest developments in their fields.
Database Terminology 