• Contact Info
• EUCLID and Articles
• Primary Articles
• Databases and Indexes
• Search Strategies
• Locate the Journal which Contains Your Article

Send comments to Rachel Borchardt (rborcha@emory.edu), Biology and NBB Librarian, Emory University General Libraries.

The contents of periodicals are not searchable in EUCLID, the library catalog.

EUCLID provides the titles and call numbers of all the periodicals in the library collection, (and links to the full text of the journal, magazine or newspaper if we have it available electronically); if you do a search in EUCLID on "enzymes and kinetics," you will find BOOKS but NOT JOURNAL ARTICLES on this subject.

You will probably be looking for articles in scholarly journals. What is a scholarly journal? One in which the articles:

-- are written by experts/scholars in the field
-- include notes and/or a bibliography
-- are reviewed by an editorial board of outside scholars before publication
-- are geared to scholars/researchers in the field

Primary publications are first-hand reports of original research and are published in one of several formats. Best known is the paper in a scientific journal. Upon completion of a research project or investigation, the methods, results, and conclusions of the research are submitted to a scientific journal for possible publication. The decision to publish is made on the basis of evaluation by "referees" to whom the journal editor assigns the paper.

Use periodical indexes or databases to identify citations to articles. Indexes are the tools used to find articles in periodicals (journals, newspapers, magazines). An index will tell you which journals have published articles on your topic

Indexes may be in print or electronic formats or both. Electronic online indexes are called databases. They require a paid subscription. Woodruff Library subscribes to a great number of databases; as an Emory student, you can access these databases.

To identify relevant databases and indexes use Database Locator, Subject and Course Guides , or ask at the Reference Desk if you need help in determining which indexes to use.

The easiest way to select the relevant indexes/databases is to use the Database Locator. Choose your subject from the drop down box and click GO; you will get a list of databases that cover your subject. A short description of the database is included so that you can make sure it will meet your needs.

The following are good databases to use for Biology Research. For older scientific literature, you may need to consult the print indexes located in the reference collection.

Animal Behavior Abstracts
1982 to present

Significant papers relevant to animal behavior, with subjects ranging from neurophysiology to behavioral ecology, from genetics to applied ethology. Surveys all of the important journals dealing with the biology of particular taxonomic groups, including summaries of both field and laboratory inquiries. 1974 to the present (Reference QL750 .B54).

Covers current ecology research across a wide range of disciplines, reflecting recent advances in light of growing evidence regarding global environmental change and destruction.

Covers all areas of medicine, including clinical medicine, experimental medicine, dentistry, nursing, health services administration, nutrition.

Web of Science
1987 to present

Updated weekly, Web of Science is a collection of multidisciplinary citation databases, including Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index.

Zoological Record
1992 to present

Provides abstracts for over 6,500 international journals, reviews, annuals, books and proceedings, covering every aspect of zoology.

 

Identify a database or print indexing service which is likely to cover your topic.
Formulate an effective search strategy.

Boolean Operators-The Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT specify the logical relationship among the concepts. These terms give the search engine a command.

(amylase AND temperature) ......Both terms must be present.
(pill bugs OR pillbugs) .................Either one or both terms must be present.
(isopods NOT marine).................The search term following the operator must not appear.

Field Searching limits your search to specific fields (title, author, subject heading). A field is a section of an electronic record.

Terrestrial ispopods.ti.

Parentheses clarify a search statement by grouping together like concepts. The parentheses tell the search engine in what order the terms should be searched. Without the parentheses, terms are combined according to a pre-defined order

(pill bugs or pillbugs or armadillidium) and pH

Truncation symbols, sometimes called wildcards, are used to retrieve all terms beginning with a specified word root. See Database Locator for truncation symbols used in each database.

(pill bug$1 or pillbug$1 or armadillidi$2) and turn$3 OVID databases
(pill bug* or pillbug* or armadillidi*) and turn* CSA , ISI, etc. databases

Proximity operators are used to indicate order and proximity of terms.

alternative adj medicine
alternative adj medic$3 would also retrieve alternative medical practices

Many GALILEO databases use the proximity operators W (with) or N (near). With means in the order typed; near means in any order. Alternative N3 medicine indicates that there will be no more than 3 words between alternative and medicine.

Proximity operators, field designators, and truncation symbols vary with the database producer. Most databases have good HELP screens. Use them.

If your search is not retrieving relevant citations, don't give up. Have you chosen databases appropriate for your search? Consider an alternative search strategy. Ask a reference librarian for help!

In EUCLID, the Emory Libraries' catalog, search or browse for the journal title-NOT the article title. If the journal is available electronically, the URL should be included in the journal record. Finding online journals is now easier with SFX.

When you search library databases, such as BIOSIS Previews (OVID) or Web of Science (ISI), you may see the SFX@Emory button. Clicking on SFX@Emory will bring up a menu of Emory's holdings for the journal. The SFX@Emory button in databases does not guarantee we own either the print or on-line versions of the journal article. Its purpose is to seamlessly look up where your journal article might be available through Emory's resources and provide links for you to check. If SFX does not provide an on-line version of the article, we may still own a print copy. Search the JOURNAL TITLE in EUCLID (click on periodical title under the search box).

If you have additional questions about the functionality of SFX, visit the SFX Frequently Asked Questions page. For further assistance, contact reference staff at your home library or send an email to askejournals@listserv.cc.emory.edu.

If it is not available online, scroll down to the call numbers for General. Recent journal issues are shelved in alphabetical order in the Matheson Reading Room.
The journal which contains your article may also be in another Emory library.
When you find citations to articles in journals not owned by an Emory library and not available electronically, see Interlibrary Loan for information about borrowing from other libraries.
Also go to Interlibrary Use Programs for information about direct borrowing privileges at many libraries in the Atlanta/Athens area.