Finding Library Items: Journal Articles

The best place to start your search for journal articles is in online databases or indexes. You may have to search several different databases to find available articles. The big databases are JSTOR & Ebsco (see tabs above for search tips & tricks) and the following links provide more detailed descriptions of databases organized by subject:

• Dance
• Music
• Theatre

You may also browse available journal titles online using the Journal Finder.

All article databases discussed in this tutorial require that you sign-in from off-campus.

1. Begin your search by opening one of the Ebsco databases in your discipline. [Example: Click to open Music Index (Sign-in required from off-campus)].
2. Then, click “Choose Databases.” This will allow you to search all the Ebsco databases related to your subject at one time rather than repeating your searches separately in each database!
   
3. Place a check by all of the databases you’d like to search, then choose “ok.”
   
4. Then enter your terms and conduct your search. Ebsco has a good “help” section with even more tips & tricks if you want to improve your search skills (the link is located in the upper-right corner of the interface).

1. Request e-delivery of articles, book chapters and other resources that you cannot access electronically with full-text online through InterLibrary Loan (ILL). Free-of-charge, ILL and electronic article delivery are offered to all current Kent State faculty, staff, and students. Turnaround time for KSU materials is two business days. Non-KSU materials and large orders may take longer.
2. Click on the “Find It” button from databases to automatically fill out your ILL form; click on “request an electronic copy"
   
   

Contact ILL:
330-672-2670  |  lms-ill@kent.edu

The Performing Arts Library created journal collection descriptors for users to quickly identify holdings of journal titles at Kent State University. The descriptors are thin DVD cases located next to the bound journals, and contain the journal title, print holdings, electronic access, and indexing information. A list of all journal titles is in the current periodicals or online.

You may find a citation in a footnote or bibliography/references list that you would like to track down. Here's an example of music-related citation in a book:

Agawu, V. K. "Does Music Theory Need Musicology?," Current Musicology 53 (1993), pp. 89-98.

Citation Breakdown: "Agawu" is the author of the article. The phrase in "quotes" is the title of the article, and the italicized phrase that follows is the title of the journal. "53 (1993)" is the volume number and date showing when the journal published, followed by the location of the article within the journal.

1. Open the Journal Finder
2. Type the title of the journal in the search box (i.e. Current Musicology)
3. Browse print and electronic holdings or click on the option to "Look up Article"
4. Type the title of the article (i.e. Does Music Theory Need Musicology) or whatever information you have into the search form and click on the "Look Up" button.
5. Explore the options listed after "Available at:" to locate the desired article.

You may also browse journal titles by subject oin the Journal Finder. In the "Browse journal by subject" section select "Music, dance, drama & film" to view Performing Arts-related titles.

Citation Tools Guide: Links to APA, MLA, Chicago & Turabian, and AMA style manuals. Check with your professor to see which one is appropriate for your discipline.

Use tabs above for more tips on finding Journal Articles.