Which of the following is NOT a multiple-access database?

• A. The printed dictionary arranged alphabetically by headword
• B. An online catalog
• C. A bibliographic database with controlled vocabularies
• D. A citation index

Answer: (A)

A multiple-access database lets you reach information through several different routes or access points, such as by author, title, subject, or descriptor terms. A resource organized strictly by a single order—like a printed dictionary arranged alphabetically by headword—offers one main path to find information: you look up the word you’re interested in and read the entry. That means it doesn’t provide multiple ways to access the data beyond the straightforward headword lookup, so it isn’t a multiple-access database.

The other examples fit the idea of multiple access. An online catalog allows searching by various fields—author, title, subject, keywords, or call numbers—giving multiple routes to the same records. A bibliographic database with controlled vocabularies lets you search using different access points such as author names, journal titles, keywords, and standardized subject terms, which can be cross-referenced for more precise retrieval. A citation index enables navigation through relationships between works—citing articles and cited references—along with other fields, providing several ways to reach relevant items.