How to Find Articles

Find journal, magazine and newspaper articles on a topic by using a library database

Note: Off-campus users will be prompted to log in to the library's proxy server the first time they try to access a database. Learn more About Off-Campus Access.

A database is a periodical index , which contains the citations for articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers. These citations identify the actual articles, and provide you with the information you need to locate that article. In addition to citations, some databases provide abstracts or summaries of the articles. A few databases also provide the full text of an article.

Choose a Database

Begin by selecting the database you want to search. Some databases are multidisciplinary, and have articles on many subjects. Other databases focus on specific subject areas.

EBSCOhost provides a brief description of each database to help you choose the best one for your research. 

To view EBSCOhost databases:

• Click on "Databases and Electronic Resources" from the library website's menu (on the left side of the page).

• Select "EBSCOhost" from the alphabetical list.

If you need additional help choosing a database, Ask a Librarian for recommendations. If you are unsure where to start, an excellent multidisciplinary database is Academic Search Premier.

Search for Articles

• Use the search features of the database you chose to look for articles. 

• Search using important keywords or subject words that describe your topic. 

• Scan your results to identify citations that seem relevant or interesting.

If you are having trouble searching, click on the Help link in the top right corner of the screen or Ask a Librarian for assistance. 

Get the Articles

In some databases you can link to the full text directly.  If the full text is available, there will be a link to the PDF Full Text and/or the HTML Full Text.

If the full text article is not available, you will only be able to view a detailed record for the article.  Other options for getting to the full text of an article include:

• Search the James J. Kelly Library's online catalog to see if SGU owns the journal either in print or online.

If you can't find the journal you need in EBSCOHOST or in the library you can either:

• Request it via Interlibrary Loan (if for your SGU research)

• Go to a OK-SHARE library to copy the article yourself.

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Questions?

If you have any problems or questions, please submit a question form, send an email to librarian@stgregorys.edu, or call us at 405.878.5111.