Other files contain full-text information featuring company financial data, magazine or encyclopedia articles, directory listings and government statistics. Online searching offers a number of advantages. It is more efficient to search multiple year files rather than manually search through annual or quarterly indexes. Searching by computer makes it possible to combine several search topics and to set limits, such as language, publication type, and year. Concepts that are not wanted can be excluded.
Databases are usually more current than the paper indexes since they can be updated electronically.
While some electronic databases are available for general use, other databases are restricted to use by faculty, students and staff at UW-L. Databases offered through online vendors charging a connect fee are limited to campus users. For fee-based online services a librarian intermediary conducts the searches. To initiate a search, request a search form at the Reference Desk. Fill out the form completely and return it to this desk. While school is in session, searches will be run within the next 48 hours, Monday through Friday.