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Decoding Bibliographic Citations

Trying to track down an item found in a reference list, but you don't know what it is or where to look for it? Help is here!

Identifying a Citation for a Periodical Article

Example:  

Boyce, L. A., Zaccaro, S. J., & Wisecarver, M. Z. (2010). Propensity for self-development of leadership attributes: Understanding, predicting, and supporting performance of leader self-development. Leadership Quarterly, 21(1), 159-178.

Characteristics:

  • Author(s) of the article:  Boyce, L. A., Zaccaro, S. J., & Wisecarver, M. Z.
  • Publication date:  2010
    (May include a month and day)
  • Title of the article:  Propensity for self-development of leadership attributes:
    Understanding, predicting,and supporting performance of leader self-development
  • Title of the journal:  Leadership Quarterly
  • Volume and issue number:  21(1)
    (May be listed with just a volume number)
  • Page numbers:  159-178

Locate:

   Via the Bethel University Library Webpage:

  • Locate the Find Something Specific category
  • Click on Journals
  • Enter a search for the journal title in the Lookup Journal Titles search box
  • Click on Search
  • If it is full text in one or more of the research databases to which the Bethel University Library subscribes
    (verify that the year in which the article was published is indexed in a database),
    click on the title link, and search for the article within the database
  • If the journal is only available in the Bethel University Library in print, you will need to:
    • Locate the appropriate volume and issue
    • Scan or make a photocopy of the article

Lookup Journal Titles

If the journal article is not available at or through the Bethel University Library, or a partner library, you have the option of requesting a digital copy of the article from another library:

   Via the Bethel University Library Webpage:  

  • Locate the Library Accounts link
  • Click on Login to LibSearch
  • Click on Bethel students, faculty, and staff
  • Login with your Bethel username and password
  • Click on New Search at the top of the page
  • Click on Advanced Search
  • At Search for:  click on Beyond Partner Libraries
  • Enter a search for the article title in the search box, narrowing your search by the Material Type: Articles
  • If the article is still not available, click on Still didn't find what you need? Click here to send a request 
  • Select the Article citation type
  • Fill out the request form
  • Click on Send Request 
  • You will be notified via email when the article is available for online retrieval