There are numerous free databases, library catalogues and datasets available on the web which can help you to identify useful research materials. The free databases tend to be less sophisticated than the library's subscription databases and they are unlikely to give you electronic access to the full text. Be sure to check the UoB Library Catalogue to see if we stock any items you discover - if not remember that we may be able to obtain them on inter-library loan.

General

• Google Scholar - this is Google's specialist search engine for researchers. It will search for only peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organisations.

Alcohol and drug misuse

• DrugScope publish DrugSearch, an online encyclopaedia of drugs and their history.
• Scottish Addiction Studies Online Library - owned and maintained by Scottish Addiction Studies at the University of Stirling this is a small collection of resources with links to over 45 journals, 28 online libraries and over 400 documents. The library specialises in full text documents which are available for downloading.

Black and ethnic minority people

• Ethnicity & Health Specialist Library - part of the National Library for Health. This electronic library provides evidence about specific needs in health care for minority ethnic groups and the management of a health care service in a multicultural, diverse society.  It attempts to select the best available evidence relevant to 'culturally competent healthcare' for minority ethnic groups and cultures present in Britain in significant numbers. The main topic areas include: Disease and conditions; Service delivery; Cultural competence and Management and policy statistics.  

Children and young people

• Child Health Specialist Library - part of the National Library for Health. This electronic library addresses a wide range of issues relating to the health and well being of children. Some areas of the library have restricted access.
• NSPCC Inform - Produced by NSPCC, is UK 's only free, online, specialised child protection resource. Developed specifically to share information with practitioners, researchers, trainers and other professionals working to protect children, it brings together all NSPCC products and services. NSPCC Inform includes access to the library catalogue of over 30,000 child protection related references.
• ORB Children's Database - a small database of children's literature research with specific reference to Northern Ireland. The main focus is on research carried out since 1990. The database is funded by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland, supported by the Children's Research Forum and hosted through Queen's University. Please check the UoB library catalogue to see if we stock any journal titles that you need - if not remember that we may be able to order them on inter-library loan.
• Youth Information - the National Youth Agency's online information toolkit for young people and all those working with them.

Criminology

Health and social care

• Social Care Online - an extensive free database compiled by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). It covers references to books, journals, magazines, reports and audiovisual materials relating to social work and social welfare and has some links to full text articles.

Learning disabilities

• Learning Disabilities Specialist Library - part of the National Library for Health. This electronic library is collaboratively produced by a number of individuals and organisations The main topic areas include: Advocacy & empowerment; Communication.

Mental health

• Mental Health Specialist Library - part of the National Library for Health. This electronic library is collaboratively produced by a number of individuals and organisations. The main topic areas include: Adult conditions, Children and adolescent conditions and Mental health promotion. Resources can also be viewed by type: Guidance & pathways; Evidence; Reference; Education & CPD and Patient information.
• PsycInfo - this is one of the EBSCO collection of databases and is the main index to the world's psychological literature. Invaluable for all mental health and learning disability topics as well as child development and learning theories. It requires your username and password off-campus.

Older people

• Dementia Catalogue - produced by the Alzheimer’s Society library is a free bibliographic resource of 1000 records of published materials about all aspects of dementia care and research. It includes references to books, journal articles, videos/DVDs and dementia care training materials.
• Later Life specialist Library - part of the National Library for Health. The aim of this electronic library is to signpost the best available evidence and other key documents to support people who are making health care decisions related to Later Life. The main topic areas include: Ageism; Dementia; Screening and surveillance and Stroke. 

Social policy

• Social Policy Digest - the Digest is designed as a key resource for those working in UK social policy and is a companion to the journals: Journal of Social Policy and Social Policy and Society (both available electronically through your library). It provides up-to-date listings of policy developments, practice changes, research reports and publications in the whole range of social policy areas - often with links to the original documents.