Sure, you do use a browser and the Internet to connect to a database.

But the content of a database is not part of the "visible web". The information within the databases is password protected and so search engines are not able to display their contents.

Databases are value-added products that are sold by subscription to libraries. Luckily for researchers, many libraries, both public libraries and academic libraries subscribe to all kinds of databases.

keys

Your key to accessing the information in the COA Library's online databases is your Portal login info. Only students currently enrolled at COA are able to access the databases. The general public is not able to get a username and password to the COA Library's databases.

Beyond the COA Library's databases, most public libraries subscribe to databases and typically anyone with a public library card for a particular public library can access that library's databases. In addition to using the databases available through the COA Library, you should also explore the databases available to you through your local public library!