Finding Articles in Magazines and Journals

Popular magazines vs. scholarly journals

What should you use? It depends on your purpose:

Magazine
Journal
Audience: the general public Audience: scholars in a particular field
Short articles to inform or entertain Lengthy articles that report research findings or academic information
Articles written by journalists Articles written by specialists in the field
Articles reviewed by a general editor Articles often reviewed by other specialists in the field before publication to ensure objectivity of research
Usually no footnotes or bibliography Extensive bibliography and footnotes/endnotes
Extensive advertising Little or no advertising
Examples:
  • US News and World Report
  • Christianity Today
  • Sports Illustrated
  • Popular Science
 Examples:
  • Journal of the American Medical Association
  • Bibliotheca Sacra
  • Science
  • Journal of Educational Research

Using electronic indexes

The Library subscribes to several article databases and indexes that allow patrons to search for articles in all subject fields. These electronic indexes are usually hosted on the Internet and can be accessed via our Databases link to an alphabetical databases page. Current students, faculty, staff, and graduate assistants can access some of these databases from home.

Many electronic indexes include full-text copies of at least some articles. This can save a researcher a lot of time, but beware: most full-text articles omit photographs, tables, charts, graphs, and page numbering.

Electronic Database Help link to page

Note: The electronic indexes cover only 40% of Mack Library's holdings. Please consider supplementing your electronic search results with a search of the paper indexes.

CD-ROM databases

The library's collection of CD-ROM databases allows researchers to search for scholarly articles in specific subject fields.

For example,

Choosing the right database

The electronic databases are categorized by subject and name. Choose the subject heading that suits your topic and click on the dropdown list to see a list of databases that index articles in your subject field. Some databases overlap.

In general, try these databases for

Using paper indexes

The Library subscribes to several major paper indexes of both general and scholarly periodical literature. These indexes are located in the center of the periodicals room on the index tables.

Most indexes arrange articles by subject heading. The articles are listed in abbreviated form; the magazine/journal titles and their abbreviations are often listed at the front of the book. Be sure to write down the article title, journal title, volume number and issue number (if listed), date, and page numbers.

For general research, the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature is an excellent place to start.

How to obtain an article from the library

  1. Check the Periodicals Master List to see if the library has a subscription to the magazine or journal.

    2. How to read the Periodicals Master List (sample titles are fictitious)


    Current subscription; shelved in bound volumes in periodicals room

    JOURNAL OF SPORTS STATISTICS
    ROOM: January 15, 1977 (v. 3 #12)—

    Subscription ceased, but holdings still exist in stacks

    JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN BIRD SOCIETY
    STACKS: October 10, 1985 (v. 30 #45)-December 24, 1994 (v. 49 #51)

    Current subscription; title is available on microfilm only

    JOURNAL OF TOPOGRAPHY
    MICROFILM: January 1, 1980 (v. 20 #1)—

  2. If the library carries the title, check the location to see if the periodical is in the ROOM or the STACKS or on MICROFORM.
    • If the title is in the room, the issue will be in a bound volume shelved near the index tables. Very recent issues may still be in the back stacks.
    • If the issue is in stacks, fill out a yellow slip and give it to the periodicals assistant. The assistant will retrieve the periodical.
    • If the issue is on microform, fill out a yellow slip and give it to the periodicals assistant. The periodicals assistant will get out the microfilm or fiche and set up the reader or printer.

How to obtain articles from periodicals the library does not subscribe to

The library can obtain most articles through InterLibrary Loan for a fee of $1.25 per request plus any fees charged by the lending library (such as photocopying charges). Please read the InterLibrary Loan policies and contact Mrs. Pat LeMaster or fill out an ILL request form.

Most articles will arrive within one week. In some cases, the lending library can fax the article to Mack Library, and the patron will have his copy in just a day or two.

Citing Articles

Article in print format

Please check with the faculty member teaching the course for the proper documentation style for your project.

MLA
808.027 G35 REF
MLA Style Manual

APA
808.06615 P96
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

Turabian
808.02 T84
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

Article from electronic source (Internet, database)

Electronic documents are difficult to cite because of the absence of page numbers, dates, or other traditional information.

Most documentation systems require at least the following:
Title of page
Author of page
Full URL of page or Name of database
Date accessed

For more complete information on documenting electronic documents, see
808.027 W152 REF
The Columbia Guide to Online Style

Find Information