For a list of Reference sources (which can often provide an excellent start to the research process), see the Research Guide: Literature handout. Remember that while Reference books can't be checked out, you are welcome to use them within the library and to make photocopies of relevant material. Reference books are on the first floor of FLITE.

For books in the circulating collection (Main Stacks), use the Online Catalog. Type in the author's name (last name first name) as a Subject search. Look at the book titles listed under the main heading for the author, under the Criticism and Interpretation subheading, and under the subheading for the individual work (if listed). Literature-related books in the Main Stacks will have a call number which starts with a 'P' and will be found on the third floor.

Books in FLITE contain Library of Congress call numbers. Call numbers which begin with PN are general books on literature, PR is specifically English Literature, and PS is American Literature.

Use the subscription databases available from the library's Web site to locate literary criticism articles. The following are the databases that will be most relevant:

American Periodicals Series: 1740-1900
This database offers digitized pages from over 1,100 periodical titles, including literary journals, published in the United States. A work-in-progress, American Periodical Series currently includes material through the early twentieth century.

JSTOR
JSTOR is a multidisciplinary database which contains the full-text of articles from core journals in 26 academic disciplines. Coverage is from each journal's first issue and continues through 2-5 years from the most recently published issues. Forty-Eight Language and Literature journals are included in JSTOR.

*Click here to access a guide on using JSTOR.

Literature Resources from Gale
This wide-ranging product from Gale Group includes much of the content found in Gale's various print reference series. Also included are full-text articles from over 250 literary journals as well as the ability to search the MLA Bibliography. Remember to use "Exact Title" when conducting title searches.

MLA (Modern Language Association) International Bibliography is the most comprehensive source for citations relating to literature, linguistics, and folklore. MLA includes over 1.3 million citations to articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and bibliographies extending back to 1963.

If you have a citation and need to see if FLITE owns the article in any format, click on the Find It link under each citation.

If you've determined that Ferris does not own the journals which contain articles indexed in MLA, request the article as an InterLibrary Loan. Generally, InterLibrary Loans take about 5-10 business days to arrive.

*Click here to access a guide on using Literature Resources from Gale.

Project MUSE
A partnership of several non-profit publishers, Project Muse offers full-text articles from over 250 journals. Full-text coverage for each journal varies but usually starts in the mid- to late- 1990s. Journals in Muse encompass the social sciences, humanities, and the arts; specific fields covered by Muse include literature and education.

*Click here to access a guide on using Project Muse.

For information on accessing databases from off-campus, click here.

If you have a citation and need to see if FLITE owns the article in any format, use the Find a Periodical database.

These are locations for journals FLITE has in physical formats:

Current Periodicals - Second Floor
Bound Periodicals (1999 - present) - Second Floor
Bound Periodicals (before 1999) - Lower Level
Microforms (microfilm and microfiche) - Second Floor

If FLITE does not own the article in any format, use InterLibrary Loan.

RefWorks
RefWorks is an online research management tool that allows users to create personal bibliographic databases and use them for a variety of research activities. References are quickly and easily imported from text files or online databases and records can be formatted in hundreds of output styles from APA, MLA, Chicago etc.

NOTE: You must use a computer on-campus to sign up for a RefWorks account.

RefWorks Tutorial

Citation Style Guide: MLA (PDF)
An online version of FLITE's MLA Quick Reference handout, requires Adoboe Acrobat Reader.

MLA Format
More examples of how cite different types of sources using the MLA format.

Contact: Paul Kammerdiner / Email / Phone: 231-591-3037 / Office: FLITE 331

Don't forget, you are welcome to come to the Oval Information Desk and ask for help any time. You can also call us 231-591-3602 or chat with us.