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McCain Library

How Do I Find an Article?

If you're looking for magazine or journal articles on a particular topic, follow these steps:

1. Search in a periodical index or "database."

We have access to nearly 200 different periodical databases online. Find these databases in the following places:

Use a database in the general subject area of your topic, or, choose one of the multidisciplinary databases, like Academic Search Premier or Research Library.

2. Locate the article.

Your search results will list article citations, and sometimes the full-text of the article will be included. If no full-text is available, follow these steps:

Do a title search for the journal title (not the article title) in the (Journal/Article Locator). This resource will tell you if we have online access to the journal in any of our other databases. It will also tell you if we have the journal in print or microfilm in the library collection.
Double-check if the library has a print or microfilm copy of the journal by doing a title search in SOPHIA.

3. If the library doesn't have access to the journal:

Get a photocopy sent through Interlibrary Loan.
If you have travel means, check the catalogs of other local libraries, and visit them to use the journal.