Find Periodical Articles on Your Topic

The Research Databases section of the Empire State Online Library offers students over 100 online databases that provide indexing and abstracting of periodical articles and other documents. If you are unfamiliar with indexing and abstracting services, follow this link that explains how these tools work.

Access to our research databases requires a valid college login and password. Go to the MyESC site to learn more about your college login and password.

• To find journal articles on a topic, click on Subject Guides to view suggested databases by subject, or scroll down to select a database service by name. When prompted, enter your college login and password. Then enter your search terms in the search box. Note that some articles are available full text online, many are not.
• To determine if a journal title is available as online full text through one of the library's research databases, search the FReD database.
• To find out which libraries own specific journal titles, search WorldCat. Enter the journal name in the "title" search box using quotes. When the results display, click on the link provided to view "Libraries Worldwide."
• To identify libraries that are close to where you live or work, explore the links provided in Locating a Library Near You.
• If you live near a SUNY (State University of New York) or CUNY (City University of New York) library, you can go in person to the library that has the journal and make a photocopy under the terms of the SUNY Open Access Policy. To retrieve articles that are part of that library's online full-text collections, speak with the reference librarian to determine if you may use the library's research databases while at the library.
• Your may also want to explore interlibrary loan or commercial document delivery services.

1. Use the Writing Resource Center | 2. Find Background Information | 3. Find Books on Your Topic | 4. Find E-Books on Your Topic | 5. Find Internet Resources on Your Topic | 6. Justify Your Sources