This presented paper offers an elementary description of database characteristics and then provides a survey of databases that may be useful to the teacher and researcher in Slavic and East European languages and literatures. The survey focuses on commercial databases that are available, usable, and needed. Individual databases discussed include: the Modern Library Association International Bibliography; the Library of Congress Catalog; the Arts and Humanities Citation Index; and the Research Library Information Network (RLIN). The paper concludes with comments on individual database concepts and microcomputer applications for research, writing, and teaching. (THC)