Answered By: Jon Allinder
Last Updated: Jun 23, 2021     Views: 3826

The library databases have resources for which we pay for access, and which are selected to support the programs of study at Walden University.  Google Scholar has scholarly (not necessarily peer reviewed) papers, which may or may not be free to access. The internet has all items available on the open internet, such as blog, free webpages, etc. 

Here is a chart to help show the differences in the types of content in these three different sources: Library databases, Google Scholar and the internet.

Comparison of types of content in Library databases, Google Scholar and the Internet

 Type of content

 Library Databases

 Google Scholar

  Internet

What does it include?

See the list of Walden Library Databases 

Learn about Google Scholar 

Evaluating Resources Guide 

Journal articles from paid subscriptions? 

YES

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Not typically

Sometimes on publisher sites 

Journal articles from open access journals?

Some

Some

YES

Magazine articles? 

YES

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Newspaper articles? 

YES

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Electronic books? 

YES

Not all books are available electronically

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

  

Textbooks? 

NO

Sometimes publishers provide previews

Sometimes publishers provide previews

Book chapters? 

YES

Not all books are available electronically

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Essays or editorials? 

YES

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Reviews? 

YES

YES

YES

Dissertations? 

YES

 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Some

Depends on copyright and publisher 

Online repositories? 

Possibly fall 2016

YES

YES

Court Opinions? 

YES

YES

YES

Website content?  

NO

Some Content 

YES

Professional societies?
(Membership required) 

NO

Some content 

Some content is free.

All content with paid membership.  

Includes blogs? 

Some (ProQuest and LexisNexis)

NO

YES

 

More information: 

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