Now it's time to ask the broad question: what is information?
We could look at a formal definition, such as this one from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. According to that source, there are five main definitions of information, including "knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction [...] intelligence, news [...] facts, data" (Merriam-Webster, 2021).
A much simpler and all-encompassing definition might be "something that tells us about something."
In this course, you’re going to learn the right places to access in order to obtain the academic information you are looking for. Using library databases can feel like a daunting task at first, but with some practice, you will be able to navigate them just as successfully.
The videos below will introduce you to some of the most common types of information sources: social media, websites, blogs, videos and podcasts, newspapers and magazine articles, professional/trade journals, scholarly journals, academic books, and reference materials.
| I'm Looking for... | Try this Type of Source... |
|---|---|
| Background information | An reference source through the Library, like Britannica. |
| A scholarly article | MCPHS Smart Search, or one of the Library's subject specific databases. |
| A deep-dive on a topic | A book written by an expert in the field. |
| Quick information about a specific drug, disease or treatment. | A point-of-care resource like Micromedex, Lexicomp or DynaMed |
