Office: JFK Library, U02C
Email: imiller@ewu.edu
Text or phone: 509.818.0559
Meet with Me (Office Hours):Wednesdays & Thursdays 3-5pm or by appointment, in person or via zoom.
Use the Schedule Research Consultation button above, for Mon-Fri 9-6pm. If you need to meet during the evening or weekend, please email me.
I have 4 article database suggestions for you, because each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Mechanics:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Mechanics:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Mechanics:
Strengths:
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Mechanics:
Basic Search Tips for Any Library Database
Searching MLA International Bibliography
MLA is the most comprehensive database for literary criticism. It indexes over 3,000 journals, as well as books, book chapters, and dissertations, back to 1923. However, it can be somewhat frustrating to search because the vast majority of the time, there is no abstract or summary of the work. You are keyword searching the title of the article/book and subject headings. (And for older articles and books, the subject headings are quite broad and not very helpful.)
Type in your search terms.
Narrowing Results
The database wants to help you narrow down. Note the various limiters on the left side:
Reviewing Your Results
Get more info: For more information about the article/book chapter/book, click on the hyperlinked title, or hover over the magnifying glass icon next to the title.
Re-sort the results: These results are by relevance, or which ones have our keywords the most frequently. You can change to by date if you wish.
Finding the Full Text of Articles
When you are searching in one of the library databases and the article in question isn't available full text right there, look for a link or button that says EWU - Check for Full Text. Click on the icon or link, and this will bring up a new window that looks similar to the one below:
Step 1: If the article is available online, it will say Fulltext available at the top. (It looks like a hyperlink, but it is a link to take you to the page you're already on.) Under View It you will see links to the databases that have the article. In the example above the article is available in JSTOR.
Step 2: If the article is not available full text, it will say Check availability. To see if we have it in print or microfilm, scroll down to Find in a Library. If we do have at least one issue of the source, it will give you the holdings record for that source (date range held, location, and call number). In this case, we have print copies of the journal from 2000-current.
Step 3: If the article is not available full text, and we do not have it in print/microfilm, go back to the View It part and click the link Request this article using Interlibrary Loan (in the middle under Can't find it? -- see image above). You will need to log in using your NetID/SSO. Verify that the fields were filled out correctly and click the red Submit Request button. Articles usually take around 3-5 days. You will be notified via your EWU email that the article is available for you to download. (Directions are in the email.)
Finding the Entire Book
MLA will also give you results found in books. Right now, the Check for Full Text button is not working properly to locate the book. Just copy/paste the title of the book into the EWU Library Catalog.
Save Relevant Articles
When you find results you would like to examine further, click the link Add to Folder. Once you are finished, click Folder View in the gold Folder has items box on the right side of the screen. You can email all the results to yourself.
Browse the Chaucer Section
Most of the books by or about Chaucer are on the Upper Level, PR1851-1951.
But expanding your search to include all of the Summit Libraries will offer a much larger number of choices.
What’s in the catalog?
How do I search the catalog? | How do I locate an item? | I can't find the specific book or video I want.
Know the title or author?
If you know the exact title of the item, type in the title "in quotes" and the last name of the author (if known).
Or
Click Browse in the top bar and type in the title and/or author. (Note: The Browse function only works for EWU holdings of books or videos, not for titles held by other libraries.)
Find Books on an Author, Work, Theory, or Motif
Type in your keywords. For one or more terms, type the keywords as you would in Google, no AND necessary, e.g. poe gothic.
I would suggest using the Advanced Search if you have a fairly complex search. See below.
Refining Your Search
Because the EWU Library Catalog has records for all types of resources, you will very likely need to limit your search results. Note all the limiters on the left side, as well as some quick limiters at the top.
Useful limiters:
Mark Your Records
See the push pin icon on the far right (labeled "Keep this item" if you hover over it)?
Click it and it will change the push pin icon and highlight the brief record yellow. You have marked a record temporarily. Click the push pin icon in the top right corner to view your marked records.
The last line of the brief record describes where the item is located.
If the wording is green, that means it is readily available, either online or physically on our shelves at the JFK Library in Cheney or Spokane Academic Library.
If the wording is yellow, that means you'll have to request it. Click Check request options - held by Summit libraries. You must be logged in to request the item -- you'll be prompted to if you aren't already.
Once you are logged in, click the link Place Summit request (4-8 days). The form will ask you:
Click REQUEST. You will be notified via your EWU email address when the item is ready to be picked up.
If the wording is gray, that means either:
I can't find the specific book or video I want.
While the EWU Library Catalog has millions of records, it only will search through the holdings of the 39 Summit libraries. If you can't find a specific book, video, CD, etc., then go to the EWU WorldCat Catalog and re-do your search. WorldCat has records from thousands of libraries worldwide. You may request the item via Interlibrary Loan.