Skip to Main Content
Primo and the Library's Databases
- Primo, the Library's discovery tool, searches most of the Library's databases at once. You can access it from the Library's home page.
- advantages:
- it covers a very broad scope of literature
- sometimes it is easier to search using Primo's search interface compared to an individual database's search interface
- some article records provide sources cited by and sources cited information
- disadvantages:
- more difficult to fine tune searches as different databases searched by Primo have different indexing systems
- has fewer refining, limiting, options
- Individual databases - you can access them from the SUNY Broome Library's database lists.
- advantages:
- easier to fine tune searches as each database has its own indexing system
- they usually have more options to refine, and limit, searches
- including options more specific to the discipline
- sometimes it is easier to search using a single database's search interface compared to Primo's search interface
- some databases provide sources cited by and sources cited information
- disadvantages:
- covers smaller areas of literature compared to Primo
- sometimes the search interface may be more difficult to use compared to Primo
consider:
- research topics may be interdisciplinary
- does the database include "in press" results for the most current research and emerging science
and to also:
- search more than one database
