Library Research Basics for Nursing Students

Library Research Basics
for Nursing Students

Finding Articles through the Online Catalog

Sometimes the article you want is available neither in the database you first searched nor in another electronic version. Then, you must use the NMSU Library catalog to see if the Library owns a print copy of the journal containing your article.

1. Go to the NMSU Library catalog at http://libcat.nmsu.edu/. The catalog automatically opens to a page with a search box. Do NOT use this search box. Rather, select the link to search by Author/Title/Subject, as this is the only way to limit your search to just journal titles.

2. Do a journal title search for your journal.

3. Often, the NMSU Library will have the journal you need in multiple formats - in print (listed as "periodical"), on microfilm, and on microfiche. The dates indicated after the journal title show the year when the journal was first published and the year in which the journal ceased publication. If the journal is still being published, a 9999 will appear as the second year. These dates do NOT indicate the years for which the Library owns copies of the journal.

4. You may need to look at several of these records until you find the one containing the year/volume with the article you seek. Click on the title of the journal to see the complete record. The "Library Has" field in each record should be carefully checked, as should the "Recent Issues" field. The information in these fields will tell you in what format the library has the year/volume you need and where it is located.

5. Use the information contained in the "Location" field to track down a non-electronic version of your article. Copies of articles can be made from print journals, from microfilm, and from microfiche.

6. If the Library does not own the journal you need, or is missing the year/volume you need, you can use Interlibrary Loan to request a copy of the article from another library. Article copies are typically sent digitally and can reach you within a week of request. [It's best, through, to plan in advance and leave yourself 2-3 weeks.] For more information about Interlibrary Loan (ILL), visit the ILL FAQ at http://lib.nmsu.edu/depts/illdds/faq.html.