Finding Articles: Journals
& Newspapers
Albert S. Cook Library
Towson University
Begin your research at the Cook Library Web Page http://cooklibrary.towson.edu
Journals and magazines are publications that are published weekly, monthly or
quarterly (a predictable basis). Article databases and periodical indexes help you find
articles on your topic.
Electronic databases let you type in search words and then show you information
about those articles that contain those words. Some databases provide citations (author,
title, source, date, publication) only, while others give you abstracts and full-text articles.
PDF full-text articles may also include graphic images, tables, and charts.
A periodical index contains a subject listing of the articles in a selected group of
magazines or journals. You may be required to use a print index to locate the contents of
older periodicals. [Example: Readers Guide]
VICTORWeb, the online catalog, lists books, journal titles,
videos, and CDs that are available in Cook Library as well as other libraries in the
University System of Maryland. You can search by KEYWORD, TITLE, NAME, or by
SUBJECT.
Search for journals (periodicals) on your topic by combining a keyword with periodical.
Example: psychology and periodical; nursing and periodical
Search for a specific journal by TITLE:
Example: American Literature; Chaucer Review; Shakespeare Quarterly
VICTORWeb will NOT help you locate individual articles from journals or
magazines!
You must use an online database OR a print index.
Go to RESEARCH TOOLS to find the electronic databases
(listed alphabetically or by subject), a list of all Cook Library’s journals, and links to
web sites.
If you know the exact name of the database, use the A to Z list
If you want to find out which databases are most appropriate for your topic, check
Subject Gateways
From home,
and name
MdUSA; enter your library barcode
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InfoTUtor, our online tutorial, offers you a review
of basic library research skills. You can also find electronic forms for Interlibrary Loan
(request journal articles) here.
Where are the journals?
Cook Library owns and subscribes to thousands of journals. They may be in one or more
of the following formats: print, microfilm or electronic.
Print journals are shelved on the 2nd floor of the library. Current issues are in the
Periodicals Room on open shelves or behind the desk. Bound volumes are arranged
alphabetically by the journal title. Microfilm is in also found here.
(current subscriptions) are listed under RESEARCH TOOLS.
These journal titles may be in print on the 2nd floor in the Periodicals area or accessed
electronically through a database. The titles are linked directly to the databases in which
they reside. You can now search for words in the titles of the journals!
Example:
Journal of General Psychology is available as follows: [from 01/01/1975 to present in
Academic Search Premier and Business Source Premier] [from 01/01/1992 to present in
Health Reference Center Academic] [from 1928 (Incomplete) to present in Cook Library Print Collection]
SCHOLARLY JOURNALS VS. POPULAR MAGAZINES:
Frequently you will be requested to use scholarly journals as sources
for a research project, rather than popular magazines or newspapers.
Here are some guidelines to help distinguish between the two:
SCHOLARLY
POPULAR
Reports original research, criticism
experimentation, analysis, or review.
Reports on current news or popular topics that
reflect current interests or trends. Includes
advertising and glossy photos.
Articles are usually submitted to other experts
for evaluation (refereed or reviewed) before
they are published. (See Ulrich's Periodicals
Directory )
Articles are not necessarily reviewed for
objectivity. May have opinions, biased points
of view, sensational writing.
Written by professors or researchers in the
field.
Written by journalists, freelance writers, or
staff.
Written using specialized vocabulary.
Written for the general public using general or
conversational vocabulary.
Articles can be long and provide in depth
coverage on a topic. Usually includes cited
references which provide an invaluable source
of information.
Examples: Annals of Human Biology;
Journal of Abnormal Psychology;
The Southern Literary Journal
Articles usually unsigned and short, except
cover stories.
Examples: Time; Newsweek; People,
Discover; Psychology Today; Sports Illustrated
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Guide to Finding Peer Reviewed (Refereed) Journals in Your Field
Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory
REF Z6941.U5 2002 (kept at the Reference Desk)
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The premier serials reference source in the world
Provides essential bibliographic and access information
Refereed Serials (vol. 5): a subject-classified listing of all serials known to be
refereed, or peer reviewed.
o Subjects include women’s studies, music, philosophy, native American
studies, medical sciences—nurses and nursing, law, history, literature,
and many more.
Finding Peer Reviewed Journal Articles in Online Databases
Online journal databases such as Academic Search and ABI index a variety of
periodicals, including scholarly, trade, popular journals, and newspapers. Many or these
databases provide full text articles, which you can print, save, or email! You can also
choose to search only “peer reviewed” journals.
Finding Newspapers
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Current newspapers online: National Newspaper Index (Baltimore Sun,
Washington Post, LA Times, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal)
LexisNexis Academic (national, regional, world newspapers)
Current print issues are on the 2nd floor
Some older issues are on microfilm on the 2nd floor
Use print indexes (Reference, 3rd floor) to locate older newspaper articles (NY
Times, Washington Post, London Times, etc.)
Style Guides
When you write a research paper you will be required to cite your references in the
proper format (APA, MLA, Chicago) as required by your professor. Electronic full text
articles or web sites require a different format than print sources.
Why do you need to cite?
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Give credit to the authors of your resources
Allow your readers to identify and verify your information
Avoid plagiarism
Required by your professor
Handouts are available on the 3rd floor; style manuals are also kept in Faculty Reserves.
From home, you can find examples online by using Cook Library’s web page;
Style Guides.
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REVIEW
Check the list of Current Subscriptions (under Research Tools) to find where the fulltext electronic journals are located (the databases).
This list includes print journals currently subscribed to by the library.
This list does NOT include any journals which are not current subscriptions.
1. If you do not find your journal listed in Current Subscriptions, check
VICTORWeb. There you will find the records of all journals, including those that
are older and those to which we no longer have current subscriptions.
2. If your topic requires that you use an older, print index (Ref area on 3rd floor),
please consult a librarian for help. (The 60’s, for example, may require you to use
Readers’ Guide for articles written during that time period.)
3. Print journals & newspapers are on the 2nd floor.
4. Use MdUSA (+ Library barcode!) to access electronic databases from home.
5. Find examples of citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago style formats from Cook
Library’s web page.
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Research Hint: For research help on this or any other research project, contact a librarian in person at the
Cook Library Reference Desk, by phone at (410) 704-2462, or on the Web at http://cooklibrary.towson.edu
using Go Directly To "email a reference librarian."
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finding_journals_fall02.doc
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