LSE library subscribes to over 20,000 titles online. Here is a quick guide to finding out what are available to LSE staff and students and how to access them.

How do I find out if the journal article I need is available electronically?

If you have a reference to a specific journal article you can find out if it available electronically using the LSE website.

There are 3  ways.

1. LSE Library Catalogue Entries for all ejournals have been added to the main Library catalogue at:

http://catalogue.lse.ac.uk  To find them the quickest method is to choose the Advanced search option and search by

title. Exact titles can be entered in inverted commas Eg if you require an article by Anthony Giddens in issue 3 of Media, culture and society

2004 enter “Media, culture and Society” in the title search option.

This will retrieve separate entries for print and paper copies of the title. Note that these may not cover the same years. If a title does not have the years you need remember to go back to the print record as it may be in the Library in paper.

Entries for journals appear in the format

Get started withElectronic Journals

The first entry for Media, Culture and Society is for the ejournal . It does not have a classmark and gives the location electronic. The second entry refers to the paper copy as it gives a classmark and location Periodical.

In order to access the electronic version click on the title. This will display a fuller record in the format 

Choose the option Online links click here for full text. This often takes you to a third screen. This lists the different databases where the journal can be found. Remember to check which years are available on the different databases as they may be different! Select the one you need and then log in using your LSE Network username and password..

2. The Electronic Journals web page A second route is to go directly to the LSE ejournals page

http://zw4gk5cr3l.search.serialssolutions.com/ which provides detailed information on the Electronic journals. This page contains the same information about ejournals but it does not provide information on paper copies held by the Library.

There is an A-Z List of Electronic Journals. This lists the titles available on the electronic journal databases to which the Library subscribes. Each entry provides information on the years available and access arrangements. Sometimes titles are available on several different databases so more than one link is given. Note that different years may be accessible on different databases so remember to read the information carefully!

The list is searchable. If you know the exact title of the journal select Title begins with. If you are not sure of the title select Title contains all words.

3. The Classic Catalogue

A different version of the Library catalogue – called the classic catalogue can be accessed at http://classic.catalogue.lse.ac.uk/

It contains the same information as the main library catalogue it just displays the information differently.

The classic catalogue has a Journal title browse option which you can use to quickly browse a-z lists of print and ejournals . however, you do need to know the first word of the journal title.

Key points to Note.

Always follow the links from the LSE website. Searches on Google Scholar will give references to some of the LSE ejournals but it cannot

provide a complete list. Some of the URLs may also be inaccurate. Not all the journals held in the LSE library are available electronically (especially foreign

language and pre mid 1990 titles) If you cannot find an e-version remember to check the catalogue to see if there is a paper version.

How do I find articles about my subject area?

The LSE Library Catalogue does not contain references to individual journal articles. To find materials on a particular subject area or by a specific author you will need to use the journal indexing services or ejournal databases available via the LSE electronic resources page

The LSE Electronic Resources Page

This is your key starting point for accessing the databases to which the LSE Library subscribes. Most databases can be accessed on and off campus using your LSE Network username and

password. A small number use other passwords. (these are noted on the catalogue records and can be found on LSE for you)

It is important that you follow the links from the LSE website. Other urls obtained by Google may not work with the lse passwords!

The subject guides – offer advice from Liaison librarians on the best databases to use for finding information on your subject area. http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/subjectGuides/Home.aspx . Each guide has a section on finding journal articles with links to the most important resources. Note that in most cases you will need to search more than one database so you will need to allow time to do this!

There is also a databases page http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/eresources/databases.aspx which has a complete a-z listing of all our subscription databases. It also includes a list of List of important other databases on the Library catalogue. Which links to free article databases and other full text gateways on the Internet.

It is often possible to save time by cross searching a number of the key databases simultaneously. This can be done using the Cross Searcher option. http://zw4gk5cr3l.cs.serialssolutions.com/

Using Cross Searcher to locate journal articles.

Go to http://zw4gk5cr3l.cs.serialssolutions.com/

Log in using your LSE network username and password.

Cross Searcher enables you to quickly cross search a number of leading LSE subscription databases.

The results you retrieve can be easily narrowed down and you can follow the orange LSE article finder icon   to find out if the library has the article in full text.

However, do remember that due to technical reasons (as some databases are not compatible with the system) Cross Searcher may not search all the databases you need for an effective literature review of your subject area. For advice on this consult the subject guide for your department. http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/subjectGuides/Home.aspx This will provide information on the other databases you should use (if necessary) and give you their direct login pages.

You should also note that Cross Searcher does not offer some of the advanced search features (such as personalisation, search alerts) which can be offered by searching the databases individually. To search a database directly go to the LSE Library catalogue or and enter the title of the resource you need. Then log in using your LSE network username and password.

The Cross Searcher page

The main page looks like this

Click on the name of your subject area to see which databases you can cross search in your subject area. You can then select all the databases for the subject or choose to select one or two

The popular category – cross searches our most popular general social science subject databases.

The reference section cross-searches a select of our online dictionaries and encyclopedias

For a full a-z list of all the databases available on cross searcher select the Search by database option (which is under the advanced search tab).

Then enter your search terms in the main search box.

Advice on constructing your search terms.

There is a Cross searcher help guide that you can consult online.

However some quick tips are.

Note that the quick search function defaults to a title search . This may limit the items retrieved. To search more broadly choose the keyword or full text options from the drop down list.

Combine search terms using and or Search for phrases such as European Union by enclosing your phrase in quotation marks

eg “European Union”

Understanding your search results

A typical results screen looks like this. This is a search for women and advertising.

The number of results is displayed at the top of the screen in the blue bar. All the results are displayed in the middle of the screen. The green results by source box shows you how many hits were found in each database

searched. In this example 71 were found in Business source premier 11 in the Library catalogue. Click on the numbers if you wish to go directly to these results.

The Clustered results box at the top of the screen enables you to browse and sort your search results.

It defaults to clustering by topic. This offers some suggestions for quickly narrowing down the results by more specific subject keywords. For instance in this example women and advertising it offers the more specific terms images of women. Note that these terms are machine generated. As a result sometimes they are not very useful! To refine your search more effectively click on the refine option at the top of the screen and add or change your search terms.

Note each article has an orange icon click on this to find information about whether the article is available in full text.

For example

This article is available on 2 of our databases. Click on the article option to go to the full text.

Note not all items are offered in full text. If full text is not offered remember to search the lse library catalogue to see if we have a paper copy. Choose the journal title browse option.

Finally don’t forget cross searcher only searches a selection of the databases on offer. Go back to your subject guide pages to check if there are any others that you need to searchhttp://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/subjectGuides/Home.aspx

Quick checklist of databases for different subject areas.

This provides a quick listing. For more detailed advice you should consult the relevant subject guides http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/subjectGuides/Home.aspx

Note that the general social science subject databases are suitable for all subject areas.

Guides to individual databases may be found on the Library Companion (LSE Library moodle course) they are located on the right hand side in the databases top tips section. https://moodle.lse.ac.uk/login/index.php

 Subject Area Ejournal databases (contain full text articles)

Journal indexes and abstracts (contain references to articles. Follow the orange lse article finder – where offered to see if we have the full text. They often index more titles than the ejournal databases)

General social science subjects IngentaConnect Blackwell Synergy JSTOR Swetswise Periodicals Archive OnlineMetaPressChina Academic journals (titles in Chinese)Informaworld

ASSIA – Applied Social Sciences Index and AbstractChicana databaseIBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciencesABSEES -American bibliography of Slavic and East European studies

Newspaper articles NexisEastview Russian Databases Latin America Data Base Times Digital Archive 1785-1995Mideast Wire  

Current digest of the Soviet Press

Business, Company and Marketing information

Business Source Premier Science Direct (mainly for market research) Emerald Management xtra

EconlitHuman resources Abstracts

Economics Business Source Premier Emerald Management xtraNew Palgrave dictionaryEconomist Archive

IBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social

sciencesEconlit

Computer science ScienceDirect IEEE Digital Library  ACM Digital Library MathSciNet

Web of knowledge

Geography See general social science subject area

GeobaseGreenFileIBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of sciencePoplineRUDIURBADOC

Government and politics Columbia International Affairs Online

ABSEES -American bibliography of Slavic and East European studiesIBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciencesInternational Political science abstractsPAIS InternationalPeace Research AbstractsEuropean Sources onlineSourceOECD

History 19th century UK periodicals online19th century British library newspapersTimes digital archive

Historical AbstractsEarly modern Italy Bibliography.IBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciencesInternational Political science abstractsRoyal Historical society Bibliography.

International Relations Columbia International Affairs Online

ABSEES -American bibliography of Slavic and East European studiesIBSS International Bibliography of the Social

SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciencesInternational Political Science AbstractsPeace Research Abstracts

Law Lexis LibraryWestlawUk Hein Online  Kluwer Law InternationalKluwerarbitration.com Lawtel

Legal Journals Index (via Westlaw)Index to legal Periodicals (via LexisNexis Butterworths)Criminal Justice Abstracts

Mathematics JSTOR MathSciNetScienceDirect  ACM Digital Library

Web of knowledge

Media and communications International Encyclopedia of CommunicationSourceOECD (information technology outlook)

Communication abstractsIBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciences

Medicine and public health ScienceDirect BioMed Central  MedlineScientific American Archive

Web of scienceHistory of Science, Technology and Medicine

Philosophy Routledge encyclopedia of philosophy online

Philosophers Index.IBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and sociall sciences

Social Anthropology Anthrosource IBSS International Bibliography of the Social SciencesWeb of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciences

Social Policy See general social science ssection

IBSS International Bibliography of the Social Sciences

GLBT Life (gay lesbian and transgender issues)Web of Knowledge/ Web of ScienceFRANCIS : International Humanities and social sciencesASSIA – Applied Social Sciences PAIS International (Public International).Race Relations AbstractsSocial Care onlineAgeinfo

Our recommended research strategy for tracing journal articles

1. Before you begin it is a good idea to check with your supervisor and/or course handbook the length of the dissertation required, standards of presentation and content (do you need to consult primary or secondary resources?) and any required style for citing articles.

2. Then choose the databases you wish to search. Go to the subject guide for your area http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/subjectGuides/Home.aspx and read the section on searching for journal articles.

3. Use Cross Searcher to quickly cross search the databases for your subject area http://zw4gk5cr3l.cs.serialssolutions.com/ remember to click on the orange LSE article finder next to the results to see if the full text is available online.

4. Use the subject guide for your area http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/subjectGuides/Home.aspx to find out about any additional databases (not available via Cross Searcher which you might wish to use) you will find links to these on the locating journal articles section. They are labelled databases relevant to (subject area).

5. Remember to write down the full references to any articles you use.

Other sources of ejournals Although LSE staff and students have access rights to visit other UK universities, there are

often restrictions on usage of Ejournals. You should check before travelling to another location. Off campus access to e-titles is not usually allowed.except for titles held at Senate House Library http://catalogue.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/ and the Wellcome Library http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/ (mainly medical titles).Information on access is given on the Library websites.

Although an increasing number of full text journals are becoming available free of charge on the Internet, the range of titles is still smaller than those offered by the LSE subscription databases so you should continue to give priority to materials found via the LSE website.

One of the best listings of open access Ejournals is the DOAJ http://www.doaj.org/

Other listings of free ejournals include. Open J-Gate http://www.openj-gate.com/ http://www.openj-gate.com/

Further help

Consult the Library web pages to book a course http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/training/Home.aspx

Ask at the help desk, Library, First floor Email Ejournals@lse.ac.uk for help with password and access problems. Please note down

the names and titles of any materials you cannot access.

HD 09/2009.h.dawson@lse.ac.uk