What is the difference between library databases, Google Scholar and the internet?

Answered By: Jon Allinder

Last Updated: Mar 03, 2022 Views: 12053

The library databases are paid subscriptions, and 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 blogs, free webpages, etc.

**Differences between the Library databases, Google Scholar and the internet**
Library Databases	Google Scholar	Internet
Only Walden University students, faculty, and staff with an active username and password can search for free.	Anyone can search for free.	Anyone can search for free.
Only Walden University students, faculty, and staff with an active username and password can get full text for free.	Some full text is available for free.	Some full text is available for free.
You can limit to peer review.	You cannot limit to peer review.	You cannot limit to peer review.
Library content includes all subscriptions paid for by the Walden Library.	Content may include some of the same items also available in subscriptions paid for by the Walden Library.	Content does not include subscriptions paid for by the Walden Library.
Library databases list which journals, magazines, conferences, and other sources they use for content.	Google Scholar does not disclose all of the sources they "crawl."	Internet sites don't always tell you where they get their content.

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