TCC Library: Database Tutorials
What's here?
Searching Tutorials
This page was created to offer you some short tutorials -- most are 3 to 4 minutes -- about how to use several of the most commonly used databases.
- Note: Some of the interfaces have changed since we made these videos, but the concepts are the same.)
Scroll on this page to see tutorials on the following items:
- Library Catalog
- Super Search
- Gale Ebooks
- Points of View Reference Source
- Academic Search Complete
- ProQuest Periodicals
- JSTOR
- PsycArticles
- CINAHL
- Pubmed
TCC's research databases provide full text (and indexing) of magazine, newspaper, journal, and subject encyclopedia articles. While you can access this handful of databases on this page, you can access the complete A-Z list of databases by clicking the "Research Databases" tab above. Or by clicking the list here, linked just below:
Library Catalog and Database Tutorials
Library Catalog and Database Tutorials
The following sections on this page provide tutorials on how to better use the library's catalog to locate books, ebooks, and physical DVDs inside the library, as well as many of the library's frequently used databases.
Library Catalog Tutorial
Use the info below to locate books, eBooks, and DVDs in the Library Catalog
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Library Catalog This link opens in a new window
Find items on the TCC library's shelves, as well as digital books from our ebook collections.
Super Search Video Tutorial
The large search box on the library's homepage is called SuperSearch. It looks through the library's catalog and many of the library's databases. It's a great place to start to see what kinds of information exist on any given topic.
Databases for Finding Background Info
Gale eBooks Tutorial
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Gale EBooks Tutorial (2020)Click this link to play the video ( Previously called Gale Virtual Reference Library, GVRL)
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Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window
Digitized reference works, covering many disciplines. Very useful for background information on a topic.
Points of View Reference Source Tutorial
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Points of View Reference Source Tutorial (2025)Click the link to watch this video for an introduction to searching Points of View Reference Source
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Points of View Reference Source This link opens in a new window
Articles on 400 topics, each with an overview and an argument, and many with opposing arguments. Also includes primary sources.
Databases for Popular-Sourced Periodicals and Scholarly Journal Articles
Academic Search Complete Tutorial
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Academic Search Complete Tutorial (2025)Click the link to watch this video for an introduction to searching Academic Search Complete.
Searching Handout
The following handout provides step-by-step instructions with screenshots for how to search Academic Search Complete.
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Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window
(Ebsco) Periodical database. This multi-disciplinary database covers most disciplines taught at TCC. Most articles are scholarly.
ProQuest Periodical Databases Tutorials
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Quick Guide: ProQuest PeriodicalsView or download this quick guide to learn more about what kinds of information this databases houses and how to access it.
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ProQuest Periodical Databases This link opens in a new window
Multiple periodical databases providing coverage of a wide range of topics, with a mix of popular and scholarly sources. Particularly good for current events.
JSTOR Tutorial
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Using JSTOR video tutorial2:16 minute video
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JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Full text of a range of academic journal articles and primary sources. TCC's collection includes: "Archival Journal / Primary Source Collections." Good coverage of history, sociology, anthropology, literature, and economics. All images from Artstor are now on JSTOR!
Databases for Psychology and Nursing Topics
PsycArticles Tutorial
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PsycARTICLES video tutorial (2025)Click the link to watch this video for an introduction to searching PsycARTICLES
Searching Handout
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PsycARTICLES This link opens in a new window
(Also known as APA PsycARTICLES).(Ebsco) Periodical database of peer-reviewed, scholarly, and scientific articles in psychology.
CINAHL Tutorial
Searching Handout
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CINAHL with Full Text This link opens in a new window
(Ebsco) The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health with Full Text provides access to over 600 journals from the fields of nursing and allied health.
PubMed Tutorial
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PubMed
PubMed comprises more than 30 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher Web sites (i.e. not all articles will be available to you).
Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.
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