Getting Started with Articles
Databases are indexes to magazine, journals, and newspaper articles. Many databases include the full text of the articles they index.
To search for articles when you know the title of the database see the
To find which databases are best for your topic see the
Q: How do I find a journal article?
A: It depends on the topic you are researching.
Academic Search Premier which provides full text for nearly 4,650 journals including more than 3,600 peer-reviewed publications and indexing and abstracts for more than 8,200 journals in nearly every area of academic study) is a good place to begin. There are other electronic indexes, listed by subject, on the Milne Library Resources Listed by Subject page. Electronic indexes generally only provide coverage from about 1980, so if you need an older article you may need to use a print index. Another option for older journals is the JSTOR archive which provides access to the full text of over 300 scholarly journals across many subject areas. The objective of JSTOR is to provide all issues back to Volume 1, Issue 1 for all journals; some journals are available back to the 17th century. Please ask a Reference Librarian if you need assistance!
Q: I prefer an article I can read and print from my computer. Where do I find these?
A: You need to look for materials labeled "full text". Milne Library has access to about 20,000 full text journals, magazines, and newspapers. Academic Search Premier is a good starting point. The Milne Library Full Text Database page has a complete list.
Q: Where are journals located?
A: Journals and magazines are kept in the Periodical Room in the basement of the library, filed on the shelves alphabetically by title. Although the majority of journals and magazines are in print format, some are in microform format.
Q: How do I find if Milne Library has a specific journal?
A: Milne Library does not own everything you can locate in an index such as Academic Search Premier.
For print journals in Milne Library: Check either the Milne Library Catalog (click on the Reserves or Journals box near the top of the page).
For online full-text journals: check the Milne Library Full Text Electronic Journal Holdings (Serials Solutions). If Milne Library does not own a magazine or journal, it can often be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan.
Q: My professor insists that we use an article that includes the original illustrations and charts. How do I find one online?
A: Electronic versions of journals sometimes only provide the written text of the article; therefore, important information may be missing. PDF files are exact reproductions of the journal, so if you are given a choice between HTML and PDF, choose PDF. You may need to look at a print version of the journal.
Q: My professor said I need to use a "refereed" journal. What does that mean? How do I find one?
A: For academic research, it is often important to use refereed (also called "peer-reviewed" or "scholarly") journals rather than popular magazines. Peer-review is the process by which a journal article is evaluated by experts in the field. An example of a peer-reviewed journal is Journal of the American Medical Association. An example of a popular magazine is Time. Databases such as Academic Search Premier allow you to limit your search to only refereed journals. Ask a librarian if you need more help!