How to know if the library has access to a certain magazine or journal

The library has access to thousands of magazines and journals, either in print form or via the electronic databases. If you ever need to know how to find a specific title, this is how to do it!

On the library homepage, click the link for Serials Solutions. It is the last link under the Research Tools heading. Type in the title you are looking for. Check your spelling! It won't correct it for you like Google does.

If the journal is available, it will list all the databases that offer access, and for what dates. Here is an example:

Journal of psychology (0022-3980)

from 01/01/1975 to present in Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection
from 01/01/1984 to present in MasterFILE Premier
from 01/01/1993 to present in Expanded Academic ASAP, General OneFile and General Reference Center Gold

As you can see, the library has access to the Journal of Psychology through six different databases. The coverage goes up to the present issue, but if you look at the starting dates, they are different. So, if you need an article from 2002, you can choose any database listed, but if you need an article from 1976, only Health Source: Nursing and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection have it.

Here's another example:

Science (New York, N.Y.) (0036-8075)

from 1/6/1995- to present in NVCC Periodical Collection
from 01/01/1983 to 12/01/2004 in Professional Collection
from 01/07/1983 to 12/24/2004 in General OneFile and General Reference Center Gold
from 01/06/1984 to 12/24/2004 in Expanded Academic ASAP
from 01/03/1997 to 12/31/2004 in Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, MasterFILE Premier and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection

For this journal, the databases only have access through December of 2004, but the library receives print copies. If you need an article from 2006, you will have to come to the library and photocopy the article from the actual journal. Photocopies are 15 cents, or 12 cents if you buy a copy card.

Clicking on the links for the database names will bring you to the record for that journal. From there you can search within the publication for your article, or browse by issue. Clicking on the link for the NVCC Periodical Collection will bring you to the online catalog.

And of course, you can always ask a librarian for help, either in person, on the phone (203-575-8244) or via the IM box we have on the blog.