Periodicals include such publications as magazines, newspapers, newsletters, scholarly journals, and some bound materials and computer files that are published periodically and expected to be produced indefinitely in the future. Periodicals are also known as "serials". Back to Top

The library holds over 700 periodical titles. Of these, about 450 are regular subscriptions. About 70 are donated to the library, and the remainder are inactive titles, which are kept for retrospective research. Back to Top

Current periodical issues (published within the last three months or so) are kept on three display racks located between the circulation (at the library entrance) and reference desks on level 1. As you enter the library, turn left and look slightly up and left until you see the triangular hanging cloth banner. Under this banner lies the display rack; there are two more smaller racks to the right of this one where you'll find the rest of the current issues. Back to Top

Back issues of periodicals(more than about three months old) are kept in the stacks on the first level in the room right behind the circulation desk. (These are in paper form. You can get there by going through the door on either side of the circulation desk. The microform room is on the first level down to the right as you enter the library. It houses back issues kept on microfilm or microfiche. Back to Top

Yes. In fact, we encourage students to serve themselves if they are able. However, If you need assistance, or are in any way physically challenged, a librarian or staff member is available for service. Back to Top

They are simply arranged alphabetically by title(name of the magazine or journal) and then chronologically within each title, both on the racks and in the stacks, and in microform cabinets.

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No. College libraries generally do not loan out periodicals. If you need an article, you must use one of two conveniently located copy machines to make a copy of the pages you need. If you have no money with you, please see a librarian. We can work out some way to help you obtain your copy. Back to Top

Fifteen cents per copy. Usually not, unless you only have bills larger than ones. The machines can make change for a $1.00 or quarters. In addition, you may purchase a magnetically encoded card in denominations of 1.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00 which can be used to buy copies at a substantial saving. After the initial cost (30 cents) of the card is covered, copies will cost 12 cents each. The library normally does not keep very much change, but will make change when it can. Back to Top

How will I know if the library has a periodical and where it is?

There are two notebooks one at the reference desk and the other at the circulation desk containing basic information about our periodical collection. Both notebooks contain a complete list of titles arranged both by title and by subject. Just ask the reference librarian on duty or the person at the circulation desk if you need to look at these titles. Also, this information is available via a link to periodicals from the library home page on the World Wide Web.) Back to Top

Double check the record to make sure the library keeps the title for the correct dates. If it still looks like the libraryshould have it, look on the carts near the circulation desk, but you still can't find it, please ask the librarian on duty for assistance. Back to Top

Check briefly to see if it has been misfiled or if it has been placed on one of the carts (near circulation desk)for reshelving. If that fails, ask a librarian for help. Back to Top

Several ways. One way is to check the Web version of Request (Click on the Request link from the Library's home page, then click on Select another database, then choose reQuest serials Cat, choose apply, select Term Browse, and Title from the pull down menu, type in the title, and click search ) to see if your local public library has the journal and issue you want. Another way is to place an inter-library loan request with our library, and wait from 5 to 10 days to receive it. A third way would be to check to see if your article is available in full text on any of our full-text computer indexes, or the internet. Ask your librarian, for other alternatives If you need assistance. Back to Top

Presently, you will have to ask the librarian for such a list. However, you will be very likely to get such lists for yourself from the public access computer (PAC) or make copies from a complete printed subject list available which is currently available. Also, this information is conveniently available via a link to periodicals from the library home page on the World Wide Web. Back to Top

First you select a periodical index, either electronic (computer) or a printed one. If you chose an electronic index, you will perform a keyword or a subject search, using word(s) related to your topic. If your search finds articles, it generates some kind of citation list or result list (references to titles containing articles), you may print the articles at this time if they are available in full-text, otherwise, if the library collects them in some form, you can retrieve them and make copies. With printed indexes, the idea is similar; you find your keyword or subject phrase in a bound index, and below it you will see one or more citations to articles. Back to Top

The differences are usually clear ,but sometimes a bit fuzzy (See the library handout entitled How to Distinguish a Journal from a Magazine). If you're still not sure after reading this, you can get the answer from a librarian, or you may use the scholarly journal,refereed journal, or peer-revied journal limiter or in addition to your search criteria when you search in EbscoHost or other electronic databases to find articles in peer reviewed journals. You should know, however, that such databases contain many scholarly titles, but by no means do not include only scholarly journals.There are, sometimes, other scholarly journals in the database which are not peer reviewed, and may be acceptable as scholarly. Ask a librarian if you are in doubt.

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See the library's handouts for examples of each major style, and you will find among them examples of how to cite electronic sources. Look at our Web site for further information. Also, consult the appropriate guide for the style you're using, MLA, APA, Turabian, Chicago, etc. Often, the electronic datbases have excellent onboard help, which will show you exactly how to cite using the particular database. Back to Top

You can try, but it often won't work. It is generally inappropriate to use such an electronic index for original information that is time-specific, and goes back beyond the early 1980's. You will not normally find original articles from the 1960's, because most of these indexes only date back from about 1983 or 1984. There are a few electronic indexes, however, that go back even further. This is not true for timeless issues or events from earlier decades which are still written about. If you think your topic is an old issue, but one authors still write about, it may be worth a try to search an electronic database. Back to Top

Not quite. They are produced by companies which are in competition, which vary greatly in philosophy and even the markets they target. As such, they index different titles, have a slightly different focus, do not index the same articles(even when they index the same title). Some indexes have abstracts(summaries), some do not; some offer full-text articles, while others do not; some index many journals, and others, very few; some indexes cover only one major topic, and others may cover a broad range of topics. Many have their own proprietary searching software(search engines) and indexing rules. Back to Top

Please don't put them back. Instead, put them on one of the periodical carts found near the circulation desk, or simply leave them on a table. We request this because we need to get an idea about which titles and how many are used. This information is important for statistical purposes and planning. Back to Top

Microform refers to all forms of micro reproductions of documents, periodicals, etc.; in our library, it means microfilm (reels of film-like material containing printed matter with pages arranged in frames), or microfiche (sheets of similar material with printed matter arranged in frames). Back to Top

If you need an periodical back-issue that we do not keep in paper, but we instead have in microform, you need to go to the microform room(the room on the side opposite the reference area on the main floor) and find the film or fiche in question. Ask for assistance if you need it. Back to Top

They are arranged in cabinets alphabetically by title generally, then chronologically by year or volume /issue numbers within each alphabetic category. Back to Top

Yes, you can view or print just about any article that is in our microform collection; the quality of print is generally very good, but, occasionally, will not be as good if the microform is worn or in bad condition(happens very infrequently). Back to Top

If you do not already know how to use the reader/printer, please ask a library staff member for help. The machines are easy to use with brief instruction, and easy to break without instruction. If any warning lights like (low toner or jam) are on, please notify a library staff member. Back to Top

No, please put them in the baskets located on top of the filing drawers. We need to know what materials are being used so that we can serve you more effectively. Back to Top