Searching for Articles

Searching for Articles

After you have chosen a topic, it is time to begin your research.  It is a good idea to include resources from a variety of sources -- books, periodicals (newspapers, magazines and journals) and websites.  Often times, your instructor will specify exactly what is acceptable for a particular research assignment.

Periodicals are available in a variety of formats and in several locations in the Mount Aloysius College Library.  Particular titles may be available only in electronic format (through a database) while others may be available only in print (either as individual copies or bound) or in microform.  There are some that are available, depending on the date, in all formats - microform, print (as single issues or in bound volumes) and electronic.

Searching When You Have a Citation for a Particular Article

The major tool for finding which titles are available, in what format, etc., is JOURNAL FINDER.  Generally, this tool is used when a researcher has a citation for a specific article but doesn't know where to find the journal in which it was published.  If it is available in the Mount Aloysius College Library, JOURNAL FINDER will display its location and date range.

Here's how it works.

Assume that you want an article from Newsweek magazine that was published in 1953.  Simply click on the link for JOURNAL FINDER.  (This link can also be found on the DATABASE page.   You will be asked to provide your user name and password; use the one that you use to log on to the Mount Aloysius College network.)  Enter "Newsweek" in the box that says, "Title begins with" in order to determine if this issue is available in the Library.

JOURNAL FINDER will return results that list Mount Aloysius print and microform holdings first, if available, and then will list the databases in which that journal appears in FULL TEXT.  In this instance, an article from an issue of Newsweek from 1953 would be available only in microform.  On the other hand, articles written in issues published after January 6, 1975, would be available, again depending on the date, in a variety of formats.

Searching for Articles on a Particular Topic

The Mount Aloysius College Library subscribes to many databases.  These range in coverage from the general (e.g., ProQuest Research Library) to the specialized (e.g., Gender Watch or Westlaw Campus Research).  It is important to choose a database to suit your research needs.  Ask a Reference Librarian for help to get you started in the right direction if you are uncertain about which one might be the best choice for starters.  It may be necessary for you to search in several different databases in order to locate enough relevant information to support your research.

When you are ready to begin, simply click here to access the database page and you will be on your way in your search for articles.