The best way to locate articles on a specific topic is to use a periodical database. Periodical databases contain citation, abstract and the full text of articles in journals / magazines. Periodical databases offer many advantages. You can search multiple years simultaneously for articles by subject, keyword, author, title, publication, etc. and can save and combine search sets to obtain tailored results. Search results contain a bibliographic citation consisting of the author, title, periodical name, volume number, issue number, pages and date. Many databases will also provide an abstract or short summary of the article content and will also provide the article’s full text. The search results will note whether a citation, citation with abstract or the full text of an article is available. You will usually be able to print, save to disk, or e-mail your search results.

Choosing the Right Database

It is important to choose a periodical index, which covers the topic you are researching. Both general and subject specific electronic periodical databases are available through the TBR Virtual Library and through your instructor's library website. For example, Expanded Academic ASAP is a general periodical database and Health Reference Center is a subject specific database.

The TBR Virtual Library provides access to Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) databases, which are available to Tennessee residents through schools and libraries across the state.  To access these databases go to RODP Online Databases.   Detailed descriptions are available to help you choose the most appropriate database. The majority of TEL databases use the InfoTrac search interface. Go to this guide on Searching TEL Databases to access a guide to easy and advanced InfoTrac searching.

Your instructor's college library will subscribe to many other periodical databases. To connect to your instructor's library databases go to the RODP Virtual Library's RODP Online Databases page and select your instructor's college or university library from the "Select Instructor's College Library" drop-down menu.

You have access to the TBR Virtual Library databases and those of your instructor's college or university library. In instances where a database is available both through the TBR Virtual Library and through your instructor's college or university library, there may be some advantage to access this through your instructor's college or university’s library. Your instructor's college library can often attach holdings and linking  information which instantly lets you know if a magazine or journal article is available in full-text online in a different online database subscribed to by this library.

Click here to order articles from member libraries.