How to Find a Journal Article
Locate a citation about your topic. You may use an online database or a print index. In the following example citation, the article title is listed first, then the author, the journal title, the date of publication (the year is listed first, then the full date), the volume of the journal, the issue number, and the starting page number. In this example, the length of the article in pages is listed in parentheses after the starting page.
Insomnia in Raymond Carver's fiction. Ernest Fontana.
Studies in Short Fiction Fall 1989 v26 n4 p447(5)
If you are using an online database and the article is available in full text, you may print it. If you are working in the library, your print will be sent to one of the printers at the Circulation Desk, and you will be charged five cents per page for your printout. For most online databases, you will want to reformat the article for printing before you press the Print button in your browser.
If the article is not available in full text, you will have ascertain if the journal is available to you. To locate a print copy of the journal, click on the Find Books link on the Library homepage. Select Author/Title/Subject Search. Make sure Journal Title is highlighted and type in the title of the journal you want. Select your journal title from the results list to display the record. If your journal is the only result, the brief record will be displayed, as follows:
| Title: | Studies in short fiction |
| Publisher: | Newberry, S.C., Newberry College. |
| Subject(s): | Fiction--History and criticism--Periodicals. |
| Location: | Periodicals - see FLOOR DIRECTORY |
| Call Number: | PN3311 .S8 |
| Status: | Not Charged |
| Current Issues: | v. 34 no.1, win 1997 v. 34, no. 3 (1997 Summer) v. 34, no. 2 (1997 Spring) |
Library Has: |
v.1-11 (1963-1974) [microfilm] v.12-15 (1975-1978) v.16 (1979) [microfilm] v.17-33 (1980-1996) |
Copy the call number. Note whether the issue or volume you need is bound (listed under Library Has without any other note) a current (unbound) issue, or if it is in microfiche or microfilm (indicated in brackets after the volume and year). Check the Call Number against the floor directory to see on which floor the journal is located.
If you decide to make a photocopy of the article, you may use any of the photocopiers (located on each floor). To view and print a microform, take it to the second floor where Microfilm and Microfiche reader/printers are located. If you need assistance with this equipment, ask the reserve clerk or reference librarian.
If the library does not subscribe to the journal, check Full Text Finder to determine if the journal is included in a full-text database; then check our database list to see if we subscribe to that database. Then you may locate the article in that database by using the Advance search function.
Revised August 28, 2001: John-Bauer Graham
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