Finding articles is a two-step process:

1. Find an article on a topic.
2. Obtain a copy of the article from a location in the University Library or on the Library's Web site.

Step I

Search process:

1. Select an electronic database or a periodical index (paper format) appropriate for your research topic.  Click here to see a listing of the databases available on the TTU Libraries' Web site.
2. Formulate keywords based on your research topic and search for them in the database you selected.
3. Review your result list and click on relevant articles
4. Do you see a link to full text on the record?  If yes, click and you'll find your article online.
5. If not, do you see an SFX button? If no, jump to Step II.  If yes, click on the SFX button.
6. If an online full text is available, SFX will provide a link to the full text.  If full text is not available, SFX will tell you that it is not available.  Print your finding and go to Step II.

Step II

At this point, you:

• Have information about the article you need
• Know that the article you need is not available online.

You need to check to see if the Library has the article in paper format. 

IRIS (TTU Libraries' Online Public Access Catalog):

Click on the "Journals/Periodicals" link at the top right-hand side of the page.

Type in your journal title (not the title of your journal article) in the "Type word or phrase" box.

Select "Title begins with" as your browse index. Click "go."

Click on the entry that exactly matches your journal title.  It will usually be the second title in the list.

The record for the item you want will be displayed.  Look at the "Location/Call No." information at the bottom of the record and click on the hyperlinked call number.  The call number and detailed location information for the journal will be displayed.  Ask at the Reference Desk if you need help reading and interpreting the information on this screen.

Now you should be able to locate the journal in the Library and make a photocopy of the article you need.  Journals may not be checked out of the Library.

If you do not find a match for your journal title, it probably means that TTU does not subscribe to that journal.  You may request a copy of the article from another library using the Document Delivery form.

Questions?

To ask a librarian about finding articles, you can:
 stop by the Reference Desk in the University Library, call 742-2236
or (toll free) 1-888-270-3369, or email/chat via the  Ask a Librarian online service.

TTU Libraries are not responsible for the content of external sources. For questions about this page, contact Jon Hufford, Coordinator for Information Literacy. [v] (806) 742-2238 X277 [f] (806) 742-1964 [e]

This page last modified on 24 Oct 2006, 13:22.