Journal, newspaper, and magazine articles contain current research, information, and issues in the news.

    •  Academic Search Premier  (EBSCOhost) & Academic OneFile (Thomson/Gale) are the best general databases to search for articles on almost any subject.
 
    • EBSCOhost and Thomson/Gale also contain other databases indexing more specialized journals dealing with particular subject areas (Business, Literature, Psychology, Religion, Sciences, etc.) which lead you to journals with more specialized information.

• If you're unsure about where to begin looking for articles, try Course & Subject Guides, pages built by PC Reference Librarians to get you started.

    • If you'd like more information on databases that are available, we suggest you look at Databases by Subject for a list of appropriate databases for your subject area. More information on each database is available in Databases with Full Description.

Search the databases by entering words dealing with the information you seek.  See General Information on Electronic Databases below for more information.

    • Journal Finder displays titles of journals and dates for which print or full-text articles are available at Thomason Library.

Locating articles available in the PC Library:

    • Interlibrary Loan (ILL)  7-14 day wait
    • SCICU Statewide Borrowing Agreement - you travel to another library to borrow a book. You must see a Reference Librarian at PC to get the SCICU card.
    • Other Library Catalogs - check to see if another library has the items you need before you travel there.

ILL and SCICU Borrowing are available to all PC students, faculty, and staff. Community borrowers should check first with their public library for ILL service.

    • Evaluating Information is important for print as well as electronic resources. 

    • Types of Periodicals from Ithaca College clarifies the difference between popular and opinion magazines, scholarly journals, and trade publications.

    • Citing Resources provides online links to style manuals to help you correctly cite the sources you have used. You may also refer to our print citation manuals in Ready Reference (RR) behind the Reference Desk.

    • The Writing Center web site has links to style manuals and the staff will help you prepare and correct your bibliography.

Databases are NOT the same as the Internet.  Presbyterian College pays for access to library databases which are accessed through the WWW.  They are not available to non-College users. PC students, faculty and staff may access library databases from campus or remote locations by supplying their PC e-mail username and password when prompted.

Articles in library databases tend to be more reliable, thorough, and scholarly than most information on the Internet. Library databases index articles according to subject headings and keywords. Search by entering words dealing with the information you seek. Each database has HELP buttons and print and e-mail options. Some articles will be available with HTML or PDF full-text; however, not all publishers allow full-text access. Many articles have direct links to other databases for the text (i.e. "Full-text from Science Direct"). Some articles will direct you to "Check Journal Finder for full-text elsewhere". A computer icon in Journal Finder represents online access for a journal. Journal Finder is a service that allows you to see which journals and issues are available to PC students and faculty.

If you have any questions, please call, e-mail or stop by the Reference Desk for assistance.  

Locating articles in print journals at PC:

Newspapers and most current periodicals are located on the main floor of the library near the 24 Hour Study. Older issues and volumes of journals and magazines are found on the ground floor as you descend the main staircase.
   
After searching for and downloading full-text articles from our databases, you can determine if other articles may be available in print journals at Thomason Library (not full-text online -- citation or abstract only). "Check Journal Finder for full-text elsewhere" links in the databases take you to Journal Finder which displays a book icon for journal titles to which PC has a print subscription. Clicking on the book will take you into the THOMCAT record for the journal. LIBRARY HAS gives volumes and dates of issues available at PC.

Please ask a Reference Librarian if you have any questions or need help finding library materials.

After you find books and articles on your topic, you may need more information. Your next step should be to Find More.