Journal
A journal is a type of periodical. Journals are published on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly). They may be identified by name, volume and issue numbers and by date (for example: Current Psychology 56(2), Dec. 1982). Journals may be published in paper or electronic form.
Article databases & indexes
Article databases and indexes are tools used to find articles on a specific topic. Most, but not all, article databases and indexes are in electronic form. Each of these tools has a specific subject focus. For example, PsycInfo, which is published by American Psychological Association, is focused on the field of Psychology. All article databases and indexes provide citation information; some will include links to full-text versions of articles. Many article databases and indexes provide an abstract or summary of the articles.
Also see 'Finding Journals'.
Citation
A citation contains information that identifies a specific article in a journal. A typical citation includes the following pieces of information:
-
NOTE: Writing down all of this information will allow you to easily find a journal article in print if an online version is not available.
Abstract
An abstract is a short summary of the content of a journal article. In most scholarly journals, abstracts are found on the first page of an article below the title of the article. They are often part of a record in article databases and indexes. An abstract never takes the place of the full-text of an article.
UT Library Catalogue
The UT Library Catalogue is a web-based tool that contains information about library material (e.g. books, journals, e-resources, DVDs, videos).
Search the UT Library Catalogue to find out which of U of T’s libraries has the item you need and where in that library your item is located.
UT Library Catalogue Record
A UT Library Catalogue record contains information needed to locate an item - title, author, publication information and a call number. Go to the bottom of a record to see the name of the library that has the item you need, the item’s call number and its location within the library.
Call Number
Each item in a library has a unique call number that describes the location of the item. It is like the item's address.
A call number normally consists of both letters and numbers. For example:
RJ 499 .A1 J57 ERIN
In a library, items are arranged alphabetically by call number. There are signs on the ends of shelves that indicate the range of call numbers located on the shelf.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK AT THE REFERENCE & RESEARCH DESK.