PsycInfo

To access an alphabetical list of databases, go to the library website and chose Databases/Articles on the left. Most databases are available off-campus.

PsycInfo indexes articles about psychology and related subjects. It contains some full-text articles; mostly citations and abstracts.

Limiting your search:

• Do not begin your search by limiting to full-text only.
• PsycInfo contains articles and other content. Under "Publication Type," limit your search to "peer reviewed journals."
• Review the "methodology" options to customize your search.

If you see the "find full text" box, it does not mean that the article is full-text in that database. Click on the box to find out if the NPU or other Illinois libraries own the journal, or if it is full-text in another database. It will also allow you to click on interlibrary loan. Just fill in your information and we will contact you when your article arrives.

Additional features:

• Use the "email" fuction to send an article to yourself. You will have the option of choosing a citation format such as APA, or MLA. This saves a lot of time when you are writing your bibliography. Click here for more infomation about APA style.
• After you complete a successful search, click on the orange square above the search box to be notified about new articles on this topic.

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Popular or Scholarly?

Scholarly Journals are sometimes referred to as "academic" or "peer-reviewed." As college students, your professors will expect you to become familiar with the scholarly journals in your field. These publications generally:

• Are written by experts in their fields. The author's credentials such as their university affiliation should be on the article.
• Include a bibliography or works cited list.
• Have longer articles.
• Are published less frequently. Many scholarly journals are released quarterly.
• Include few if any advertisements.

Popular magazines generally:

• Are written by staff writers.
• Might mention sources, but do not include bibliographies.
• Are written for the general public.
• Include more pictures and advertisements.

Trade publications are a periodicals that are written for a profession audience with expertise in the field, but they do not include in depth articles with citations.

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Print Resources

Searching the Library Catalog

Circulating books and films can be found using the online catalog.  To do a subject search:

1. Go to the library website and click on catalog/books.
2. Click on the Advance Search tab.
   
3. Make sure that "all of these words" is selected in the box to the right side.
4. In the far right text box, select "subject words" as your entry.
5. Type in words that might be listed as the subject of the book. 
6. Click on the Search button.

The Brandel Library is organized by the Library of Congress call number system. Books on psychology are in the BF section on the 3rd floor. Psychiatry books are in the RC section on the 2nd floor. Many of the psychobiology books are in the QP section on the 2nd floor.

Resources at Other Libraries:

As a North Park student you have access to many other academic libraries as a visitor, or through interlibrary loan. Click here for a list of of institutions. If NPU does not have an item that you need, you can order it free of charge from another library. Click here to order a book or article.

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Need Help?

For more help go to the reference desk.  The desk is located on the right side as you come in.  The desk is staffed by librarians from 8am - 9pm on weekdays and most of the weekends.  The librarians' offices are located to the left behind the reference desk.

Click here to open a reference help ticket!

Reference Desk: x5247

Room 118 - Katie Maier-O'Shea, Head of Reference (x5582)

Room 116 - Laura Burt, Reference and Instruction (x5587)