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PERIODICALS

The foundation of scholarly research often includes periodical resources. The E.Y. Berry Library Learning Center at BHSU subscribes to thousands of current periodical titles and maintains a section of older issues in paper format, as well as, online. The Periodicals Department orders, receives and processes periodical subscriptions, as well as, several local, regional and national newspapers.

WHAT ARE PERIODICALS?
‘Periodicals’ is a general term used to describe publications that are issued at regular intervals (i.e. weekly, monthly – periodically) and generally include journals, magazines and newspapers.

WHERE IS THE PERIODICALS DEPARTMENT LOCATED?
The Periodicals Department is located on the second floor (north end) of the library.

HOW ARE PERIODICAL ARTICLES FOUND?
To find individual articles in a periodical, use a periodical index. A periodical index is a searchable database of articles from journals, magazines and newspapers. We have a few periodical indexes that are only available in paper format. The majority of our indexes are available online via the library’s website.

HOW CAN PERIODICAL ARTICLES BE OBTAIINED THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE BHSU LIBRARY?
Periodical articles that are not available in the library may be obtained by completing an interlibrary loan request form that is available on the library’s website. Click here to submit an interlibrary loan.

WHICH PERIODICAL AND NEWSPAPER TITLES DOES THE LIBRARY HAVE?
Our periodical and newspaper titles and their holdings are available online using SDLN (our online catalog) and selecting "serials" in the format option.

WHERE ARE THE PERIODICALS LOCATED?
LOCATION OF PERIODICALS IN PAPER FORMAT:
- The most recent issue of some of our more popular browse type of periodicals is located on the main floor (south end) of the library on display shelves. The older issues are located in the stacks on the second floor (north end) of the library.
- Most of our current and older issues of scholarly journals are located in the stacks on the second floor (north end) of the library.

LOCATION OF ELECTRONIC PERIODICALS:
- We have thousands of electronic periodicals that are located online and can be accessed via the library’s electronic databases that are available via the library’s website.

LOCATION OF NEWSPAPERS IN PAPER FORMAT:
- The current two issues of our newspapers in paper format are located on shelves that are on the main floor (south end) of the library. We retain the current two months of newspapers that we receive in paper format. These are available by asking a librarian to retrieve them for you (note: we also have some older issues of particular newspapers that are available in microfilm which are located in file cabinets on the main floor (north end) of the library. The name of these titles can be accessed by searching SDLN (our online catalog) and selecting "microform" in the format option.

HOW ARE THE PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS IN PAPER FORMAT ARRANGED?
ARRANGEMENT OF PERIODICALS IN PAPER FORMAT:
- The Library uses an open stack system for the periodicals. This means that patrons are free to retrieve the materials from the stacks (shelves) themselves. Journals and magazines are arranged alphabetically by title (omitting the word ‘The’ at the beginning of the title). Keep in mind that if a title is abbreviated, it will be located at the beginning of its alphabetical designation (i.e. JEGP: Journal of English and Germanic Philology). Some of our periodicals are shelved in periodical boxes and many are bound together in a volume.
ARRANGEMENT OF NEWSPAPERS IN PAPER FORMAT:
- The newspapers are arranged alphabetically by title.

CAN THE PERIODICALS BE CHECKED OUT?
The periodicals do not circulate which means they cannot be checked out of the library. They can be taken and used anywhere on the main and second floor of the library. Photocopiers are available on both floors of the library for photocopying. The photocopying of materials is governed by the U.S. Copyright Law.

HOW CAN I TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL AND A POPULAR MAGAZINE?
There are a few differences between a scholarly journal and a popular magazine.
Distinguishing between the two can be difficult, however in general there is some criteria that can be followed:

Intended audience is scholars and experts familiar with the language and discipline.

Intended audience is the general public.

Names the author’s institute or university and is usually found at the beginning of the article.

A university or institute usually isn’t named.

Written by ‘experts’ in particular fields and subject disciplines.

Generally written by professional writers or journalists and not by ‘experts’ in particular fields or subject disciplines.

Often reviewed (refereed) by the author’s peers.

Not peer (refereed) reviewed.

Includes the methodology used or a discussion of the results.

There isn’t any discussion of the results or the methodology used.

Usually contains an abstract or summary of the article.

An abstract or summary isn’t listed.

Mainly contain text and are serious looking in appearance. Often contain graphs and charts that support the text.

Are often attractive and glossy in appearance with colorful photos and other visually appealing graphics.

Usually does not have advertisements and if they do, they are usually specialized.

Often contain advertisements.

Usually published monthly, quarterly or annually.

Usually published weekly or monthly.

Usually lists the sources that the author used such as bibliographies, references or footnotes.

Usually do not credit the sources that the author used such as bibliographies, references or footnotes.

Examples:
American Historical Review
Nature
Science
Teaching Exceptional Children
College Mathematics Journal

Examples:
Ladies Home Journal
Sports Illustrated
Time
Psychology Today
Newsweek