Requesting Books & Articles
When you are searching a database like ERIC, click on the full text pdf or html file, or click "link to full text" to see if the library has alternative access to the article, or to interlibrary loan the article or book.
To locate a specific journal article:
- Check our E-journals list first to see if we have electronic access to the journal for the date on which the article was published.
- Check the OSU Libraries catalog, check "Journals" , & type in the Journal Title to see if we have a print subscription for the date of your article. Click the Request button to put in citation information.
- If OSU doesn't have an article we can usually request it from another library via InterLibrary Loan Services. You need to register for ILL before you can use it, so do this ASAP. Electronic copies of articles are sent to you as a link in your OSU email.
- To request an ERIC document that is in microfiche format fill out the Circulation Request form
Also see:
- How to Request Library Materials
- Information on Receiving Materials
- Check Your Library Records/Renew
- Questions aboutOSU materials & Summit items, contact: valley.remote@oregonstate.edu
- Interlibary Loan questions, contact: valley.ill@oregonstate.edu
Style Guides
Don't forget to cite your sources using the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines. See this handy guide from another OSU, Ohio State University, for assistance.
Many of the databases provide citation assistance. Take a look for the icon or link to "Cite this article" or "Choose a bibliographic style." These sometimes only show up when you go to print, save, or email the article, and different databases use different terminology.
Always check your references for accuracy! These citation "machines," while a great help, often get the little things wrong, so review the citation before you add it to your bibliography.
Consider using Zotero to capture and organize your citations. It is free software that is downloadable as an extension to the Firefox browser and it also has a Microsoft Word plugin that you can use to generate bibliographies.
A Note to Ecampus Students
While doing research please remember that you can always request help. Your time is important and OSU Librarians & staff are here to help you use our resources efficiently. In addition to contacting the OSU Education & Extended Campus Librarian, you can find help at the
OSU Libraries Ask a Librarian Page
It links to chat reference, which defaults to a 24/7 reference service when the Valley Library is closed.
You can also Call OSU Libraries Reference: 541-737-7293.
Finding Education Articles at OSU and Beyond
Academic Search Premier via Ebsco is a general database that is an excellent starting point for research in almost any subject area.
ERIC NOTE:Scroll down & click on database (Education Resources Information Center) via Ebsco is the largest education database in the world. It covers education literature in journals, conference proceedings, dissertations, and also includes reports, classroom guides, etc. Most academic and public libraries have some version of ERIC. It is government sponsored & freely available at this ERIC site. However, the free version will not have as much full-text (e.g., full journal articles) as the subscription versions for which OSU Libraries, your public library & your school district pay. Remember that in most areas you can login to your public library system with your library ID and search its databases, which will usually include ERIC.TIP: You can search across 4 OSU Education databases simultaneously by starting in ERIC via Ebsco, clicking on Choose Databases » , (see the blue link above the search boxes), check Education, & click OK
Education Research Complete NOTE: Scroll down & click on database covers hundreds of journals in education & contains many of the full-text education journals that you have access to via OSU Libraries. There is no free version & it is seldom available in public libraries.
Google Scholar Search for articles and books on your topic using Advanced Google Scholar. You can limit by year and check the category Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities. When you find items you want, go to the OSU Libraries catalog, ejournals or to interlibrary loan to request them. You may also find some articles that are freely available on the Internet, but while attending OSU never pay for articles that require purchasing! You have already paid for library subscriptions and interlibrary loan with your tuition and you may request these articles through OSU Libraries. After you have graduated, use your public library databases (some public libraries will also interlibrary loan articles for you), your educational district services, and open access journals that are freely available via the Internet, such as those in DOAJ.
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) provides access to free, full-text scholarly journals. Search DOAJ or scan the journals in Education.
OSLIS (Oregon School Library Information System) is designed by the Oregon State Library for OSU school children K-12 and teachers. It links to tutorials and databases for research as well as citation guides. See the FAQ
Finding Books
OSU Libraries shows materials owned by OSU. Click the Request button to borrow an item. Identify as Ecampus and the book or video will be FedExed to your home, if you live at least 30 miles from Corvallis.
Summit Catalog is a shared catalog for 35+ college libraries in Oregon and Washington which lets you borrow materials through a cooperative agreement. To request items use the pull down item to identify as OSU, then in your ID & select Ecampus.
WorldCat shows library collections from all over the US and some foreign countries. A good way to find theses is to change one of the pulldown menus to "material type" and to type in the word: theses. Use keywords for your topic search. It is usually easier to borrow dissertations than Masters theses, which often are published in just 1 copy. Theses are becoming more accessible due to digitization.
Google Books Google has electronically scanned thousands of books which can be searched by keywords. Use Advanced Search to narrow your search. Many books are under copyright so only a few pages can be viewed. To obtain the book, borrow through the OSU Libraries catalog or the Summit catalog, or use OSU Interlibary Loan.
Education Links
- Oregon Department of Education
Click on the "Teacher" view to follow links for curriculum and instruction, laws and licensure, standards and assessments, professional opportunities & more
- US Dept of Education Topics A to Z
Alphabetical index lets you browse or you can search the database. Look at the "Teachers" view for featured resources
. - Educator's Desk Reference
includes thousands of free resources & lesson plans
- Education Encyclopedia
via Gale is an OSU Libraries'subscription that provides background articles on education in the US and around the world
Primary & Secondary Sources
Primary sources are original materials and documents. A primary journal article represents the author(s) original research. Secondary sources anazlyze or describe primary work. "Primary" and "Secondary" have distinct meanings within specific disciplines. For more information, see the following guides:
U of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Library Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources
U of Maryland Libraries Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Sources
Last Update: June 16, 2009 16:45
