How can the average consumer effectively navigate the vast landscape of online databases to retrieve specific information across diverse subject areas? Robert I. Berkman, an experienced information professional, provides a structured framework for accessing and utilizing digital resources. The text argues that information literacy and knowledge of database architecture are the primary barriers to successful research for non-specialist users.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational reference for early internet-era information retrieval. Readers frequently note the practical utility of the categorized database listings for academic and personal research projects.