Compound this with different date coverage and update frequencies, and it's no wonder that is can be difficult to determine which database will be the best for your project. This is especially true if you have to decide among several databases that seem to cover the same basic subject area. If you have questions, ask your reference librarian for help. Editorial boards determine the type of information they will index from the journals covered by their database. Most do not index advertisements, editorials, letters to the editor and legal notices.
Editors also select articles based on the primary focus of the database.
Therefore, you are not always searching every article in every issued of a specific magazine covered by the database . If you are convinced that the item you are looking for was printed in a specific journal, your reference librarians can suggest several alternative strategies to help you obtain your information. How to select the best database for your project First identify all of the databases that might have the information you need. Start with the selection available at your local library. You may find that there is one database that has exactly what you need, such as ERIC for an education project.