How do I find a journal article?
Access to all JKM Library resources, physical or electronic, is enabled using OpenAthens, our single-sign-on platform. This is the online equivalent of your library card.
You can find journal articles by searching our databases, accessible from the e-resources page.
Many of our databases are accessed through EBSCO, including our most popular database, the Atla Religion Database with AtlaSerials PLUS, which is the default.
You can also search JSTOR, the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, or any of our other subject-area specific databases.
If you are searching for journal articles, we do not recommend using the "Articles" search in Primo. Primo works well for ebooks, but it will not show you everything you can get through our database subscriptions, and many of its database links do not work.
Once you have selected the database you want to search, input terms related to your topic into its search bar.
You can also choose to use an advanced search, to get more specific.
Searching EBSCO Databases
Our most commonly-searched database, Atla Religion Database with AtlaSerials PLUS, has its limits—including not covering the most recent 3 years of articles.
To get better results in EBSCO, you can add other databases to your search. Just click on "Searching:" and check the boxes next to the ones you want.
We have set up a combination link for many of the best resources to cover a broad range here: Custom JKM EBSCO search
However, nothing bad will happen if you just "Select all" and hit the "Select" button at the bottom.
Many things you can find using EBSCO are available in full-text, whether as PDFs or as HTML versions, and these will show an "Access now" button.
- If the article you want is not directly available in full-text, EBSCO will show an "Access options" button instead. That button will either show you the "Full Text Finder," or give you the option to "Click here to request a scanned copy of an article or essay/chapter."
- If you see the "Full Text Finder," that means JKM may have access to that article or chapter or ebook. That may be through a separate EBSCO link, or at an external publisher or journal website. Once there, you may then have to "Log in through your institution," which should offer you the option to use your OpenAthens login.
- If you see the "Click here to request a scanned copy of an article or essay/chapter" link, follow it, fill out the request form, and click "Submit." We will attempt to find the resource for you, and either email you the scanned item in reply, or let you know how you can get it for yourself.
Sometimes, if none of our EBSCO databases have a full-text copy of something, you might find it on JSTOR instead.
Finding the Source in a Library
If there is no full text available, you will need to look up the source in a library. Try searching "All I-Share Libraries" in our catalog.
If that doesn't find it, try visiting the University of Chicago's Regenstein Library in person. You can use their wifi, with the password you can get from the ID and Privileges Office, or one of their desktop computers, with your CNetID login, to search their electronic resources.
If you haven't claimed your CNetID yet, contact your seminary's IT department (McCormick, LSTC) for the information you will need. (You will also be setting up email forwarding, and 2-factor authentication using the Duo Mobile app.) Read more about your privileges at the University of Chicago Libraries here.
If all else fails, email us at ihaveaquestion@jkmlibrary.org with a complete citation of the material you need, and your library staff will do what we can.