Journal Databases - Locating Articles in the Catalogue - Division of Library Services

Journal Databases - Locating Articles in the Catalogue

Databases or reading lists alert you to articles that you may want to read. These may be in the form of citations or references.

What is a citation?

A citation or reference is information that is used to identify material. A journal citation usually contains the authors(s) of the article, the title of the article, the title of the journal, the volume and issue number, the date and the page numbers. Look at the citation below. Hover your mouse over the citation to identify the different parts.

Fleming, J. Author (2007). Year Media literacy in higher education. Article Title
International Journal of Learning, Journal Title 13 Volume (11), Issue 137-141. Pages

Locating your article

Once you have identified an article that you want to read, you will then need to check and see if the library subscribes to the journal in which the article is located. Your article may be held electronically or it may be in a printed journal. There are different ways of finding the full text of your article. Remember, the library does not necessarily subscribe to all the journals that you will see in a database.

Finding full text in a database

If an article that you find in a database is held in full text, you will see a link near to the citation that alerts you to this. However, some articles may only have a citation or abstract. An article that is not held in full text in one database may be held in full text in another.

Clicking on the link on a citation will allow you to check if the article you want is available either electronically or in print.

For more information, see: Using SFX.

Finding full text using Article Finder

Article Finder is located under "Find Information" on the library homepage. If you have a known citation, such as one from a reading list, enter the article details and click on go. Any full text options will then be displayed, and you will also be given the option of checking the catalogue for print holdings.

Finding full text using the CSU Library Catalogue

Full text articles are not listed individually in the catalogue. However, if you know the title of the journal the article is in, you can use this to check the library catalogue. From the main page of the CSU library catalogue, choose the “Journal Titles” option. There are several search options available in the drop down menu including keyword, title and subject.

If the journal is held in print, you will see a call number for the journal eg CSU - Bathurst - P618.202313 This number is where you will find the journal on the library shelves. Clicking on "Check Availability" under the call number will let you see what the library’s holdings are for that particular journal.

If the journal is held electronically, the catalogue will alert you to that fact eg CSU - Electronic Journal - Full Text Available. Clicking on this link will show you what the library’s holdings are for that journal, and where the journal can be found eg. in a database. Clicking on this icon will show you all the available options for accessing this journal.