|
{{B}}Plugging into
Electronic Databases{{/B}} If you are looking{{U}} (36) {{/U}}information, library shelves are a good place{{U}} (37) {{/U}}. But if you need up-to-the-minute data or have specialized needs, you may{{U}} (38) {{/U}}a computerized database more useful,{{U}} (39) {{/U}}expensive, and less time consuming. A database, a file of{{U}} (40) {{/U}}on one subject or family of subjects, can be{{U}} (41) {{/U}}and maintained in a computer's memory. The speed of the computer then enables you{{U}} (42) {{/U}}any item in this file almost instantly. The three main types of databases are statistics, bibliographies, and full text. Statistical databases store vast{{U}} (43) {{/U}}of numerical data, such as wage and price indexes, census information, foreign exchange rates, and bond prices, bibliographic databases store references and{{U}} (44) {{/U}}of articles{{U}} (45) {{/U}}periodicals and newspapers. Full-text databases offer the complete texts of such materials{{U}} (46) {{/U}}newspaper, magazine and journal articles. {{U}} (47) {{/U}}databases exist today, and their numbers are{{U}} (48) {{/U}}. Many companies have their{{U}} (49) {{/U}}database,{{U}} (50) {{/U}}is accessible{{U}} (51) {{/U}}employees through computer terminals or microcomputers. {{U}}(52) {{/U}}addition, several hundred commercial data bases are now available{{U}} (53) {{/U}}the public,{{U}} (54) {{/U}}literally millions of information readily retrievable. These databases cover specific fields, such as law and financial{{U}} (55) {{/U}}, or general information, such as sports and weather data. |