The index is subject arranged. Paper indexes begin in 1929, and from 1851 to 1928 they are on microfiche. Most databases begin in 1995, and some go back to the 1980's. Many of the databases contain not only the citation and abstract to the article, but the entire text of the article itself. LegalTrac PrimaryTOM General Science Index Cites articles of at least one column each from more than 135 English-language periodicals.
Coverage ranges from popular magazines to professional science journals.
Approximately 3,500 records are added monthly. Biographical sketches, reports, reviews, and feature articles are included. This index covers from May 1984 to the present. ERIC is a national education information network for acquiring, selecting, abstracting, storing the literature of education. ERIC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and there are sixteen clearinghouses, that are located at universities or professional organizations.