Lafayette College Library

When you already have a reference to an article but need the full text...

If you have a reference for an article and need to find the full text, use either ArticleLink or the Library Catalog.

Method I: Using ArticleLink (Fast and easy!)
Simply connect to ArticleLink and enter the information that you have in the ArticleLink form.

Method II: Searching the Library Catalog
Connect to the Library Catalog and do a journal title search for the title of the periodical that you need.

Avoid these common errors when using the Library Catalog

• Do not search for the author or title of the article.
• Be sure to type in the full title of the journal, not an abbreviation. If you have only an abbreviation, consult the book Periodical Title Abbreviations at the reference desk to find the full title.
• Don't enter intitial articles (the, a, an). For example, to search for The American Journal of Psychiatry, type in American Journal of Psychiatry.

Finding the location of your article

Once you find an entry in the Library Catalog for the periodical you want, you then need to check if the library has the specific volume and issue in which your article appears. Many periodicals are available in more than one format (electronic, paper, microfilm, microfiche), but the formats often cover different volumes and years, so look at the information in the catalog carefully.

In the example below, the library has access to the Southern Economic Journal electronically from 1933 to the present, in paper format from 1984 to the present, and in microfiche from 1981 to 1990.

Electronic versions

If the periodical you need is available electronically, use the "available online" link in the catalog record to connect directly to the journal site.

Paper copies

If the volume is in paper, it will be filed under the call number listed at the top of the screen unless it is a recent issue. (To figure out where a call number is located in Skillman Library, see our guide on Call Numbers and Locations.) Recent issues are filed alphabetically on the current periodical shelves on the main floor of Skillman.

Microforms

If the volume you need is in microformat (microfilm or microfiche), it will be filed by call number in cabinets in the microform area on the lower level of Skillman. If you need help using the microform machines, ask at the reference or circulation desks.