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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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How to Find Articles

How and where to find articles using the Library website.

Subject Libraries

A good way to find articles by topic is to look for databases in your subject area. To do this, go to the list of library databases and select a subject from the dropdown menu.

You can also contact your subject library for research help in your area. Find out which library to contact on this list of Libraries by College or Major.

Additionally, you can contact your subject librarian for research assistance. You can locate the subject librarian for your area on this list of Subject Specialists. If you are unable to directly find your area, find the closest subject area that is listed and contact the subject librarian listed.

Easy Search

If you are looking for articles on a specific subject, try using Easy Search.

  1. Go to the University Library's homepage and type your topic into the "Easy Search" box. You can also choose a subject area to include in your search using the drop-down menu. An "Advanced Search" will allow you to choose and search more than one subject area at a time.  

  2. For popular topics, there may be a link to a Library Subject Guide at the top of the results (highlighted below). These guides contain links, introductory material, reference resources, and search strategies for researchers in different subject areas.

    Easy Search results with a suggestions box at the top stating that the search terms are covered in a LibGuide

  3. The rest of the results page breaks your search results down based on the type of resource. The left column finds articles that contain the keywords you searched. The results in the center are from the Library Catalog, which includes both print and electronic materials. The right column suggests databases in subject areas related to your search, and gives contact information for a librarian who specializes in that subject. 

    Easy Search results emphasizing the breakdown by results type
     

  4. You can do more detailed article searches within databases. Each database is different, but most will allow you to both skim the list of articles found and to narrow your results further using keywords and more searching.

  5. For example, if you click on Articles at the top left, you can limit the results by type of publication, year, language, and more using the menus on the left side of the screen.