Finding Articles Guide
If You Know the Journal or Article You Are Looking For:
- Search for the journal title in the Electronic Journals List
If the library subscribes to the journal electronically, it will be on this list. If you find the journal title you are looking for, follow the title link to see if the library subscribes to it for the YEAR you want. If so, you can browse or search for the article within the site of the resource provider. If not, look in the InvestiGator Catalog.
- Search for the journal title in the InvestiGator Catalog
If the library subscribes to the journal in print, microfiche, or microfilm, its title will be in the catalog. If you find the journal title you are looking for, check the “LIB. HAS” part of the record for the YEAR you want, and note the format (CURRENT, BOUND, FICHE, or FILM).
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CURRENT periodicals (journals, newspapers, magazines), about two years of recent issues, can be found in the open stacks.
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BOUND periodicals can be requested via the InvestiGator catalog. Look for the "request" button on the page with your periodical's information. Pick up items at the Book Checkout & Pickup Counter.
- FICHE and FILM (i.e., MICROFORM) periodicals can be requested via the InvestiGator catalog. Click on "Microform Request" on the top, right of any catalog page. Pick up and view items at the Book Checkout & Pickup Counter.
- If you have an article citation, use the Citation Lookup Tool.
Use this tool to find an article when you already have a citation (from a footnote, bibliography, or other source).
- Google Scholar
In addition, if you have an incomplete citation to an article, you may be able to find the complete citation by searching Google Scholar.
- Request the item through ILLiad
if you can’t find the article through the Electronic Journals List or the InvestiGator Catalog. Find more details on the Borrowing Items from Other Libraries page.
If You Want to Find Articles on a Topic
- Pick a Database
Browse the Database Selector for recommendations
- Search the Database
Use important keywords or related terms that describe your topic.
Connect more than one idea with the word AND
- Get the text of the Article by clicking on the
button from within the database. A new window will pop up and from there you have a number of options.
Easy Ways To Improve Your Search!
- Try a Subject Search to retrieve more articles like the one you found.
- Search ONLY for Scholarly or Peer Reviewed Journals. Many databases classify their journals so that you can specify "scholarly" or "peer reviewed" during your search. Here are two examples:
EBSCO search limiters:
Proquest search limiters:
Frequently Asked Questions
MF 6/27/2011
