Choosing and Using Library Databases

  is your link to full-text! Note that some sources only index journal articles—they don't actually have the full text. Use the button to find the full text or search for the journal title in the UCLA Library Catalog.

Most databases offer the option of printing, downloading, or emailing your results.

• Select items of interest by checking the boxes next to the citations.
• Once you have selected all your items, click on the print, email, or download option and follow the on-screen directions.

A few databases require you to first save items to a folder or bookbag. Then you can print or email the folder/bookbag's content.

Citation Management Software

If you're using a program like Endnote or Zotero to manage your citations, many databases allow you to export directly into your citation lists.

For long-term research, most databases have notification services that will automatically alert you (by e-mail or a custom rss feed) when a new article or book is added to the database which fits your chosen search criteria.

Notifications services provide an excellent method of keeping up-to-date with new publications in a field, by an author, or in a journal title.

Check the Help menu of a database to find out if it offers a notification system and, if so, how to use it.