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Research Guides

Eastern Washington University Libraries

How Do I...? Frequently Asked Questions

Find Articles FAQs

How can I find articles?
Can I search for articles from off-campus?
I'm having problems connecting to databases off-campus...
How do I know if the library subscribes to a particular periodical (journal, magazine, or newspaper)?
How can I locate the full text version of an article?
The library doesn't have the article I want. Now what?
How can I find specifically scholarly  articles?

How do I find articles?

The library offers access to over 100 databases for finding articles from our website, from general/all subjects databases such as Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, Nexis Uni, and ProQuest, to databases that cover particular disciplines in depth. See Research Guides for a list of all of the databases available. Also, see Ask a Librarian for advice on choosing a particular database.

Can I search for articles from off-campus?

Yes. All of our databases may be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet, with your NetID username and password. This username/password is the same one that you use to log into campus computers, the wireless network, NetStorage,etc. If you have not created your password, go to accounts.ewu.edu. See NetID Account for more information.

I'm having problems connecting to databases off-campus...

See Troubleshooting Off-Campus Connections to Databases.

How do I know if the library subscribes to a particular periodical (journal, magazine, or newspaper)?

EWU Library Catalog Title Search -- Search to see if we have a particular periodical (journal, magazine or newspaper) online, in print or microfilm. Type in the name of the journal, magazine or newspaper in the box labeled in the title ♦ starts with.

  • If we have the title online, it will have a green bullet labeled Online access. Click the link View Online to see a list of databases with date ranges. Click on the name of the database to view the journal.
  • If we have it physically (in print and/or microfilm), it will have a green bullet labeled Available at and the location (call number). Click the link Find in a Library to view the years we have available.

EJournals A-Z -- This resource will tell you if a particular journal, magazine or newspaper is available full text in any of our databases. However, it does not know what we have in print or microfilm.

If we do not have the periodical you are looking for, you may request specific articles via Interlibrary Loan.

How can I locate the full text version of an article within one of the databases?

When you are searching in one of the library databases and the article in question isn't available full text right there, look for this icon Check for Full Text iconor a hyperlink that says EWU - Check for Full Text.

Clicking the Check for Full Text button in the databases brings up a screen like this...

screenshot of check for full text results

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 Sage Premier 2014.

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 and click Find in a Library. If we do have at least one issue of the source, the page will look like the image below. Note:

  • the years we have -- for the example below we have 1974 through 2006
  • the location -- EWU-Cheney Main Level Periodical
  • the call number of the source -- HT111 .J68

Step 3: If the article is not available full text, and we do not have it in print/microfilm, go back up to View It 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 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.) 

The library doesn't have the article I want. Now what?

Click the link Request Item Using Interlibrary Loan (ILL). We will electronically deliver the article to you. Please allow one day to one week. See Interlibrary Loan for more information.

How can I find specifically scholarly articles?

See Distinguishing Scholarly Articles.