Mobile Databases

You've heard that the library has a new mobile app, but did you know that you could access databases on it? Many of the library’s databases can be accessed from the “Online Databases” section of the SLCL Mobile app. Below is a description of each database option and an example of how you might find it useful!

Ebscohost offers access to the databases Academic Search Elite and MasterFile Premier; to search both, touch Select All. Search terms are entered in the search box at the top of the page; touch Search Options to limit your results to a certain publication or date. Be aware, to view an article on your device you will need to have an app that opens PDF files (ex. Adobe PDF Reader). Use this mobile database to find a “Consumer Reports” product review while shopping.

Novelist Mobile offers information about books and authors. Novelist has a basic search box at the top of the page. To narrow your results, touch Search Options and scroll down to Document Type. There you have options such as Author (to find a list of their works) or Read-alikes (to find similar authors). Use this in the stacks to find out which book came first in a series.

Two of the databases, Gale/Cengage and Mango require you to download an additional app to use them. Touching Gale/Cengage will automatically open the Gale App (called Access My Library in the App store). Pick a St. Louis County Library location on the library map and touch View Gale Resources. Touch Update My Library and then Gale Databases. Over 20 databases are available. Use this to look up ingredients for a recipe in Culinary Arts Collection while at the grocery store.

To use Mango, the language database, you will need to have already created a Mango account through the database on the library’s website and use that to log into the Mango app. Unfortunately, Mango is currently only available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Waiting in line at the DMV? Log into this app and learn Italian while you wait.

The last two mobile databases are Worldbook and Worldcat. Worldbook is an easy-to-use mobile version of the online encyclopedia. Use this in place of Wikipedia! Worldcat, the multi-library catalog, offers less search options than the online version but uses GPS to show books at libraries close to your location.

--Susie B., Reference