How To Find Articles

First Year Programs Literature and Language Dept. Steely Library Writing Center

Resources for Teaching Just for Faculty

How to Find Articles: An Easy Guide

Magazines, newspapers, and journals are called periodicals. Every year, articles are published in periodicals around the nation and world. These articles are listed in directories called indexes.

Indexes may be general (listing a variety of magazine and newspaper articles) or indexes may be specific to a particular discipline (such as business indexes or science indexes). On line indexes are also called databases.

To find articles about your topic, you will need to follow these steps:

Step #1: Select an index database.
Step #2: Search for articles on your topic
Step #3: Get the articles

Repeat these steps as necessary. You will probably locate several articles in an index. You will probably need to use more than one index. Each of the library links below opens in a new browser window, which will allow you to go back and forth between these directions and the index you are searching.

Follow instructions below in exact order. Do not skip anything or you might get lost.

The steps below will guide you through the website of W. Frank Steely Library, which contains all the resources you need to find and print articles.

STEP 1: Select a Database

Go to the library's database page .

Many databases will be listed in alphabetical order. Click on the index you want. Which one should you select? If you're in a general course, like a 100 or 200 level writing class, I recommend a general index because they list a mixture of magazine, newspaper, and journal articles. One of the best general indexes is Academic Search Premier.

STEP 2: Search for Articles on Your Topic

(A) Once you are in the index, do a search of your topic by entering words that are central to your topic.

For example, let's say your paper will be about poverty in our region. If you type just the word "poverty," you are going to end up with a huge number of articles about poverty all over the world. For better results, search more than one word at a time, like this: POVERTY CINCINNATI. Or like this: POVERTY NORTHERN KENTUCKY. After typing the words you want to search, click "Submit."

(B) Decide which articles will be most useful to you. The index will give you a list of articles about your topic. Notice the titles of the periodicals to get a variety of magazines, newspapers, and journals.

STEP 3: Get Your Article

(A) Some articles will be available on-line. If that Is the case, the index will say so. All you have to do is click and you’ve got your article. No need to follow any more steps below. However, keep in mind that some assignments require you to use at least some sources in the library.

(B) Many articles will be in the library. If that's the case, follow the remaining steps below:

See if the library carries the periodical your article is in. To use the library’s on-line card catalog, go to NKUIRE, the library's online catalog.

Go to the BASIC SEARCH and look up the periodical title by choosing JOURNAL TITLE from the drop-down menu in the FIND RESULTS IN box.

The screen will tell you if the library carries the article. The screen will also tell you if the periodical is bound, unbound, or in microfiche or microfilm.
If the library does not carry the article, check other articles and periodicals that your search turned up. If you absolutely need that one article, there are other ways to get it. As at the Information Desk on the third floor of Steely Library.
If the library DOES carry the periodical you need, go to Steely Library. The Periodicals Areas are on the 3rd floor (current issues and bound issues) and 4th floor (microforms). To see where Steely Library is, click here for a campus map (it's #15 on the map.). You can also use that web page to look at the floor plan of the library.
Find your magazine, newspaper, or journal. You don’t need any call numbers: everything is in alphabetical order. New issues are lying on shelves. Older issues are bound like books and shelved behind the reference section on the 3rd floor of the library.
If the periodical you need is in microfiche or microfilm, go to the microform section on the 4th floor. This area is self service. If you need additional assistance, ask at the Information Desk on the main floor.

If you have any questions about using the library, go to the W. Frank Steely Library home page. Or visit ask at the Information Desk on the main floor of the library. They are helpful and glad to assist you!

J.S. Cullick, Director