Distance Learning > Getting Articles

Accessing Databases

The library subscribes to many different databases that search the indexes of thousands of journals to help you find articles from journals, magazines and newspapers. You can search and get full text from any computer with Internet.

1. Begin at the Kent Library Homepage and click on Find articles: journals, magazines, newspapers.

2. At this point you will need to select a database.  Some databases cover a certain academic subject, while others search many subject areas. 

To see all databases click on Databases A - Z (a listing of all Kent Library's databases alphabetically). 

 Or you can choose a database based on your topic in the  Databases by Subject listing. 

Still not sure what database to pick?  Try one suggested in a Subject Research Guide, or contact the reference desk.

3.  When you click on the name of the database, you may be prompted to enter your Southeast ID number, located on your student ID card.  Didn't get your ID card yet?  Read finding your student id number.

Getting Full Text

1. Once you have chosen a database and logged in, you will need to enter your topic and press the search button to get a list of results.

2. Next to some articles you will see words like Full Text, PDF, or HTML  You can click on any of these to see the entire article on your screen.  Sometimes you will have the option to choose HTML or PDF.  An HTML document is smaller than a PDF, so if you have a slow connection you may want to choose that.  You need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer to open PDF files.  PDF files will include the images and formatting of a print document.

3. If there is not full text in the database, you will instead see the words look for full text.  Click on these words to see if full text is available in another database.

When you click on look for full text, an Article Linker window will open.  If there is full text in another database, you can click full text available via to access it.  You may also be able to check the Holdings in Kent Library for physical copies.

 4. If there is not full text online, you will need to use the Interlibrary Loan page.

Sign in to the Interlibrary Loan page using your last name and student id number.  Click on submit an article request.  Fill out the form as completely as possible.  If you are requesting a journal that Kent Library has in print, you will need to click "Yes" underneath the question "Are you requesting this article from our print collection because you are a distance student."

Citing Your Sources

Citing your sources is important because it gives credit to the person who published the idea originally, and allows readers to check your evidence.  Your instructor should tell you which style of citation to use (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

Resources:

Kent Library's "Citing Your Sources" Page
Print and electronic resources for a variety of citation styles.  The Citation Toolbox includes games and videos about citing sources.

The Online Writing Lab
Ask a question, complete an interactive tutorial, and more.  You can submit a draft of your paper and receive feedback online.

If you need help searching the databases, filling out the Interlibrary Loan form, citing sources, or if you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that prohibit you from accessing or retrieving materials, please contact the reference desk