Print Indexes
| Print indexes are collections of references to specific articles, generally arranged alphabetically by subject. Some indexes, such as the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, cover popular magazines, while others, such as Humanities Index, Education Index, Social Sciences Index, and General Science Index cover scholarly journals in specialized areas. You can browse a printed index, looking up a particular subject. Usually, each volume of a printed index only contains articles written during a certain time period (e.g. one year). | |
| Printed indexes are most useful for finding older articles (especially those published before 1980), and browsing for subject headings and topic ideas. |
Here is an example from the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature:
Communication
McCall's 119:52+ Ap '92 Beware the man who can only say it with flowers. S. Nelson. il Glamour 90:162 N '92 Boy's night out-the untold story. G. Schwartz. il Mademoiselle 98:74 Mr '92 |
What A Print Index Tells You
In most print indexes, the subject headings, like "Communication," are listed alphabetically in each issue or volume. Under the subject heading is a list of other headings where you might find more information. Following these headings are citations to specific articles on the subject. For example, look at the first citation in the list above. Here is what it tells you:
- The title of the article is "9 things a mother should never say"
- The author is J. Gaylin
- It has illustrations, shown by the abbreviation "il"
- It was published in the magazine McCall's
- It appeared in volume 119, starting on page 52 and continuing from there.
- The date of publication was April 1992.
Some indexes will also provide an abstract, or summary of the article, in addition to the citation.
For assistance using print indexes and finding the articles listed in them, ask at the library reference desk.
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