Search Techniques |
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to Guides (for step-by-step printable handouts on many library
functions) |
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| Research Guides (for specific subjects at these institutions) created by: |
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of Information Needed |
Background Information |
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Primary/Secondary
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| Material
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| Getting Help |
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Articles for PJC Students, Faculty and Staff The Pensacola Junior College libraries subscribe to several magazines, journals and newspapers. These are housed in the respective libraries, in alphabetical order by title. Search the online catalog, to see if a particular title is held at any of the campus libraries. The state of Florida and PJC have subscribed to several databases that provide access to many full-text articles from magazines, journals and newspapers (all often referred to as periodicals) to PJC faculty, staff and students. These are available in all of the libraries. In order to access these from a remote location, you must log in using the 14 digit barcode number from the PJC ID card and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Full-text articles in these databases are clearly marked. See Use PJC Article Databases (below). Article databases provide articles from those publications that have licensed the use of the publication to the database producer. In some instances, certain types of articles are not made available, for instance letters to the editor or editorials. Agreements between publishers and database producers can change and determine what the database will make available. The best article for a particular research need might not be available online. In that case, the print copy must be used. Not all publications provide their articles free of charge on the Web. A Web search may turn up some articles, but the vast majority of publications sell their information to database producers. Using the library's databases will generally result in more and better quality articles than a simple Web search. Articles in these databases have appeared in print and have gone through some sort of editorial review. From the library homepage, the Most Used Article Databases leads the most commonly used databases for PJC assignments. Clicking on the database name leads to the login screen. To connect to all databases, click on All Article Databases. Once logged in, you will see a Subject list of databases available. Each subject area may be expanded to see the recommended databases for that subject by clicking on on the plus (+) to the left of the subject. Those databases that contain fulltext information (article is available online) have a note to the right that says "Full Text." For a description of the database, click on the information icon (i) to the right of the database name. Clicking on the
Alphabetical button in the upper center will organize the list of
databases into alphabetical order. Most databases index articles from the mid 1980's. Full text is generally available from the early 90's. Articles published prior to 1984 may be identified by using print indexes available in the library. See a reference librarian for help locating older articles. Some databases contain a Find Text button beside an article that links to PJC's collection of databases where an article indexed and cited in one database may be read in another. Google Scholar is a promising attempt to index scholarly material from books, journals and other publications. Searchers using Google Scholar on any of PJC's campus computers will see "Find it @PJC Library" on those articles that are available through the library's databases. This greatly expands the number articles that can be read online through Google Scholar. For instructions on how to set Google Scholar in order to see "Find it @PJC Library" from remote locations, click here. Once set, clicking on "Find it @PJC Library" will require logging in with the PJC ID card barcode number. Is it a magazine or is it a journal? Some instructors require the use of scholarly or peer-reviewed journals rather than magazines. For help in distinguishing between journals and magazines, click here. Most article databases provide a check-off method for limiting results to scholarly or peer-reviewed journals. Search Techniques Most search techniques (what to enter into the computer) apply to online library catalogs, article databases and Web search tools. Information on Boolean Basics and the Essence of Keyword Searching are available, as well as some Tips and tutorials. The North Carolina State University library has created a keyword builder which is an excellent template. Ealuating Articles When researching a topic, it is important to select and evaluate articles. Selection is simple in those databases that include an abstract (summary) of the article. Most subscription databases highlight the words used in the search within the articles identified. By quickly reading those highlighted words in context, it is possible to choose articles. Besides this common sense approach, article selection criteria should be applied. Articles Not Available Online Articles not available in full text online in a database may be available in the PJC collection. To verify availability, check the PJC library catalog and search by the title of the mgazine, journal or newspaper. If the library does not subscribe to the magazine, journal or newspaper needed, articles may be obtained through Interlibrary Loans. Many library databases have a request form within the database. Called Interlibrary Loan, ILL or Request, this feature allows users to request materials not available online. Interlibrary Loan services are available only to faculty, staff and students. Note, the library cannot request copies of articles from those publications which we own. Articles for non-PJC affiliated patrons Subscription databases are available to non-PJC affiliated patrons from any of the libraries. Remote access is not available for non-PJC affiliated patrons. The West Florida Regional Library provides access to many subscription databases for registered users of that library. Several article databases are available free of charge on the Web. See those listed under Free Article Databases.
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| Address
comments or questions to: gvail@pjc.edu Last updated on 11/09 |