Thursday, February 16, 2017

Full Text Finder and Citation Finder

Tarleton's Dick Smith library subscribes to more than 200 databases, which provide access to a multitude of publications. Determining which database contains the particular source you are looking for can be a daunting task. Fortunately we have Full Text Finder and Citation Finder, powerful tools that can find and link you to specific periodicals or specific articles within our myriad of databases.

Full Text Finder

To use Full Text Finder first go to the library's webpage: http://www.tarleton.edu/library/. Then click on the Full Text Finder link highlighted in the screenshot below:
Full Text Finder link highlighted in yellow. 

After you click the Full Text Finder link you will come to a search screen where you can type in the name of a particular periodical title (journal, magazine, newspaper). Below the search box there are links that allow you to browse for periodicals by title or by discipline.
Searching for the Journal of Marketing
Your search results will let you know which databases have the periodical  you are looking for, and the date range of coverage provided in each database. There is also a search box, which allows you to search within that periodical.
Search results. 

Citation Finder 

Another useful tool is Citation Finder. This is helpful when you are trying to track down a specific article. For example, you are reading a source and you want to find an article that is listed in that source's references.
Example citation.
After reading an article I found the citation above, and decided to use Citation Finder to see if this article was available through a Tarleton library database. To use Citation Finder first go to the library's website: http://www.tarleton.edu/library/. Then click on the Citation Finder link highlighted in the screenshot below.
Citation Finder link highlighted in yellow.

After you click the Citation Finder link you will come to a search screen where you will need to input the article's bibliographic information. That information is found in the citation (see example above).
Input as much information as you can. If there is something you don't know, then leave it blank. The more information you provide, the more likely you will be linked to the correct source. At a minimum you should provide the journal title, article title, date, and author's last name. 
Fortunately, the article I'm looking for is available in the JSTOR database. Clicking on the link in the screenshot below took me directly to the article.
Link to full text of the article in the JSTOR database. 
If you need assistance using Full Text Finder or Citation Finder then contact the library at 254-968-1898 or reference@tarleton.edu.


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