LibGuides: Library and Information Studies: Find Articles

Why Use A Database?

A database allows you to look for articles in many different journals at one time. Some databases also provide access to additional materials such as dissertations, book chapters, books, datasets, magazines, newspapers. sound recordings, videos, etc.

If the full text of an article is not available within a database, try one of these three ways to figure out if the library has the journal or call the Research Help Desk at 405-325-4142 for assistance.
What if you tried those three things and the library does not have a journal article that you need? We can still get it for you via our interlibrary loan service. It's free! And articles often come electronically within a few days.
If you are interested in browsing a list of LIS journals, see this page.

Essential Databases for LIS

These are the major databases for finding journal articles in LIS.

Library Information Science & Technology Abstracts
Coverage: 1960s
Provides access to citations in the literature of information science and related disciplines. Indexes more than 600 periodicals, as well as books, research reports, and proceedings. Subject coverage includes librarianship, classification, cataloging, bibliometrics, online information retrieval, information management and more.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online print or video tutorial.
Library Literature and Information Science
Coverage: 1984-present
Provides information relating to library and information science, knowledge management, technology and information issues. Materials indexed include journal articles, books, conference proceedings, theses, and book reviews. Some full text is available.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online print or video tutorial.
Library Literature and Information Science Retrospective
Coverage: 1905-1983
This bibliographic database indexes hundreds of periodicals, books, book chapters, academic journals, conference proceedings, and theses related to library scholarship. Subjects covered include copyright, censorship, rare books, publishing, indexing, education for librarianship, cataloging, personnel administration, reference services, and more.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online print and video tutorial.

Computer Science Databases

ACM Digital Library
Coverage: 1951-present
Includes journal and newsletter articles and conference proceedings published by the Association for Computing Machinery and affiliated organizations. ACM has also made freely available the first 50 years (1951-2000) of its publications and related content, including data sets, software, slides, audio recordings, and videos.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.
IEEE Xplore
Coverage: 1913-present
Full text access to IEEE/IEE journals, proceedings, and standards.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.

Multidisciplinary Databases

Academic Search Complete
Comprehensive, multidisciplinary database covering social sciences, humanities, education, physical and life sciences, and ethnic studies with access to more than 7,000 peer reviewed journals and over 75,000 videos from the Associated Press.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online print or video tutorial.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar enables you to search specifically for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts, and technical reports from all broad areas of research. Use Google Scholar to find articles from a wide variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web.
NOTE: You will need to use the “Library Links” feature to indicate that you are affiliated with OU:
- Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper left-hand corner
- Choose settings at the bottom of the list
- In the search bar, type “University of Oklahoma”
- Check the boxes next to both University of Oklahoma Libraries entries (Open WorldCat is selected by default and can remain checked)
- Save your settings
If you use Zotero, please use these instructions to prevent Zotero from applying the proxy:
- Open Zotero
- Enable Zotero Connector (if not already enabled)
- Right-click on the Zotero Connector GUI icon and select preferences
- Click on the “Proxies” tab
- Click on the OU Proxy - it should read “http://login.ezproxy.lib.ou.edu/login?qurl=%u”
- Another frame will open below the current one. Scroll through the hostnames list to find “scholar.google.com” and select and click on the minus (-) button.
JSTOR
This database is a digitized archive of the backfiles of selected scholarly journals. Provides access to materials in African American studies, anthropology, Asian studies, ecology, economics, education, finance, general science, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, political science, population studies, sociology, and statistics.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
Coverage: 1861-present
Indexes U.S. doctoral dissertations completed at accredited institutions since 1861 and dissertations and theses, most with abstracts, from the U.K. and Ireland since 1716. This database includes some dissertations from Canada and Europe, as well as some master's theses and foreign language dissertations. Most OU dissertations are full text through summer 2013; after that date, find OU dissertations in SHAREOK. Most dissertations from other institutions, 1997 to present, are full text. To obtain full-text pre-1997 dissertations, use the interlibrary loan.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.
Web of Science
Coverage: 1900-present
Multidisciplinary index covering leading scholarly journals in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Includes the Web of Science core collection and the following databases: Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS Citation Index, BIOSIS Previews, Current Contents Connect, Grants Index, KCI-Korean Journal Database, MEDLINE, Preprint Citation Index, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Citation Index, SciELO Citation Index, and Zoological Record. Some full text is available.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.

Specialized Databases

These databases are not for finding journal articles. They provide specialized information that various types of librarians frequently use.

Book and Serial Directories and Information

Ulrichsweb
Provides detailed information on serials published throughout the world.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.
Books In Print
Provides extensive bibliographic, format, and cost information, as well as information on reviews and awards, and synopses for millions of titles.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.

Children's Librarianship

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
Provides access to over 500,000 reviews and related information about children's literature.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.

Something About The Author
Examines the lives and works of authors and illustrators for children and young adults. This series spotlights more than 12,000 individuals in entries that typically cover personal life, career, writings, adaptations, and additional sources.

Classification

Library of Congress Classification Web Plus
Web access to the Library of Congress classification schedules and the Library of Congress Subject Headings.
University of Oklahoma Libraries has licensed this resource for 5 simultaneous users.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.

Technology

Library Technology Reports
Helps librarians make informed decisions about technology projects and purchases. Reports may address the application of technology to library services, offer evaluative descriptions of specific products or product classes, or cover emerging technology. Ceased publication as a subscription-based product in 2022.

Subject Specific Databases

Communication Source
Coverage: 1900-present
Provides access to Communication & Mass Media Complete and Communication Abstracts. Subject coverage includes communication, linguistics, rhetoric and discourse, speech-language pathology, media studies, and related fields. Some full text is available.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online print or video tutorial.
ERIC
Coverage: 1966-present
An online library of education research, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Materials indexed include journal articles and research reports (ERIC Documents). Some full text is available.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial or the University of Oklahoma Libraries' tutorial.
Professional Development Collection
Coverage: 1965-present
Indexes literature in education and related fields. Materials indexed include academic journals and professional periodicals. Some full text is available.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online print or video tutorial.
ProQuest One Business
Comprehensive business and economics database with global coverage featuring thousands of full text journals, working papers, dissertations, videos, wire feeds, market research reports, and newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial.
PsycINFO
Coverage: 1887-present
Covers psychology and related disciplines in the behavioral sciences. Materials indexed include journals, book chapters, books, and dissertations. Some full text is available.
For more information about using this resource, view the publisher's online tutorial

Library and Information Studies