Home ยป Help

How Do I Find Articles?


1 "I Need to Find a Journal Article on My Topic. Where Should I Start?"
2 "I Know the Name of the Database I'd Like to Use. How Can I Find It?"
3 "I'm Looking for a Specific Article (I Know the Title, Author, and Journal Name...)"
4 "How Can I Tell the Difference Among Newspaper, Magazine, and Journal Articles?"
5 "How Do I Know if the Journal I Want is Available Online?"
6 "How Do I Find Articles that Are on Reserve for My Course?"

1. "I Need to Find a Journal Article on My Topic. Where Should I Start?"


If You're On Campus...

1) Start at the Western Libraries homepage.

2) Click on Resources by Subject .

3) Select a subject area related to your topic.

4) Choose Find Articles Using Indexes .

5) Select a resource from the list provided.

HINT: Read the descriptions of each resource to determine which databases/indexes are the most appropriate for your research.

6) Click on the link to the resource that you've chosen; this will lead you to an electronic database/index that will allow you to search for articles on your topic.

NOTE: Each database indexes and/or searches different groups of journals. To do an exhaustive search, multiple databases should be consulted.

If you're having difficulty using a particular database:

  • Look for a Help or Information button within the resource which may provide further instructions/tips for searching that resource.
    AND/OR
  • Ask library staff for further assistance.

If You're Off-Campus...

1) Start at the Western Libraries homepage.

2) Click on Off-Campus Access .
3) Enter your UWO Personal Computing Account username and password (the same login that you use to access your UWO e-mail account).
5) Click on Resources by Subject.
6) Select a subject area related to your topic.
7) Choose Articles Using Indexes.
8) Select a resource from the list provided. HINT: Read the descriptions of each resource to determine which are the most appropriate for your research.
9) Click on the link to the resource that you've chosen; this will lead you to an online database which will allow you to search for articles on your topic.

NOTE: Each database indexes and/or searches different groups of journals. To do an exhaustive search, multiple databases should be consulted.

If you're having difficulty using a particular database:
  • Look for a Help or Information button within the resource which may provide further instructions/tips for searching that resource.
    AND/OR
  • Ask library staff for further assistance.

Top

2. "I Know the Name of the Database I'd Like to Use. How Can I Find It?"


1) Start at the Western Libraries homepage.

2) Click on Databases by Title.

3) Use the alphabetical index at the top of the page to locate the database of your choice.

4) Select the database by clicking on the title of the resource.

Top

3. "I'm Looking for a Specific Article (I Know the Title, Author and Journal Name...)"


If you're looking for...

Warnken, Paula."The Impact of Technology on Information Literacy Education in Libraries." The Journal of Academic Librarianship 30.2 (2004): 151-156.

1) Start at the Western Libraries homepage.
2) Click on Library Catalogue .
3) Search by: Title (use the title of the journal, not the title of the article)
(e.g. The Journal of Academic Librarianship). Omit the initial article; in this case "The" and prelimit your search to JOURNALS.
4) Select the appropriate title from the list of results.
5) Examine the item record and determine whether or not the volume and issue of the journal that you're looking for is available:
  • online (available in electronic format via a database)
    AND/OR
  • in print (Western Libraries' has a copy sitting on the shelf).



According to the item record provided above, Volume 30, Issue 2 of the Journal of Academic Librarianship is available online and not in print at The D.B.Weldon Library.
  • If the volume and issue of the journal is not available online, note the location and call number for the print version, and go to the Western Libraries location where it is housed to view it.
  • If the volume and issue of the journal is available online, click on the link provided at the top of the library record to connect to the electronic version.
6) If you cannot find the journal in the Library Catalogue:
  • Confirm that you have the correct information (complete journal title, correct volume and/or issue, author(s) name(s), etc).
  • Ask library staff for assistance.
OR

There is also an alternative way of finding articles if you have the complete citation. It involves using the Citation Linker, a utility that is offered though the Get it @ Western service .

1.) Simply load up the citation linker Web Page.
2.) Enter as much of the citation information as you know into the online form, (eg. Journal Title, Volume number, Issue number, Start page...)
3.) Click on the button.
4.) The resulting screen will show your citation matched to the best possible electronic resource that is available.
5.) Click on the displayed link to be directed to your article.
6.) By clicking on Check Western Libraries Shared Catalogue on the final screen instead of the link to the article, Western Libraries Catalogue will be searched using the information supplied in the Citation Linker form.

Top

4. "How Can I Tell the Difference Among Newspaper, Magazine, and Journal Articles?"


Newspaper, magazine and journal articles can be found in periodicals (publications issued on an ongoing and regular basis). While each type of article can be used for university level research, scholarly or professional journal articles are often the most appropriate and reliable resources to use at the university level. For further information, please see The D.B. Weldon Library's page: How To Recognize a Scholarly Journal

Top

5. "How Do I Know if the Journal I Want is Available Online?"


1) Start at the Western Libraries homepage.
2) Click on List of Western Libraries' E-Journals.

3) Browse the list of journal titles to see if the required journal is available online (in electronic format).

If the journal is listed:
  • Click on the title.
  • Click on the link located at the top of the library record.
If the journal is not listed:
  • Go to the Library Catalogue.
  • Search by: Title (use the title of the journal, not the title of the article).
4) If you see the button while you are searching an electronic index/database, click on it to connect your search in the database to the journal and article you want to read. A new window containing a number of options will open. If an electronic copy is available, select the first menu option and enter your UWO login and password. Then you will be directed to the electronic options available through Western Libraries. If electronic access is not available, select Shared Library Catalogue to see if Western Libraries subscribes to the print edition of the journal you want.

OR

There is a tool offered by the Get it @ Western service that can help you find out if a journal is available online. It is call the Citation Linker. To see if a journal is online simply:
1.) Load up the Citation Linker web page.
2.) In the online form enter the name of the Journal in the appropriate field as well as the year of coverage you are interested in.
3.) Click on the Get it @ Western button.
4.) The resulting screen will display a list of the available electronic sources for the title (if any).
5.) By clicking on Check Western Libraries Shared Catalogue on the final screen instead of the link to the journal, a search in the Western Libraries Catalogue will be conducted with the information provided by citation linker form.

Top

6. "How Do I Find Articles that are on Reserve for My Course?"


1) Start at the Western Libraries homepage.
2) Click on Library Catalogue.
3) Click on Course Reserves.

Then type in Course Name (e.g. MIT 026b)

  • OR
  • Type in name of Course Instructor (e.g. Noon, J)
4) Note the following:

Location identifies the Western Libraries' location where you'll find the material (e.g. DBW = The D.B. Weldon Library).

Call Number identifies the specific item you need (e.g. the article "Inside the Search Process" is photocopy 3777).

Status indicates whether or not the item is available (e.g. IN LIBRARY = available).



Top