A full-text article database usually contains millions of previously published periodical articles. Such databases require you to pay for their services. Fortunately, more and more libraries--such as Rio Hondo Library--are subscribing to article database services so students will be able to use them free of charge. (In fact, many libraries now prefer article databases over costly subscription and mailing fees for hard-copy magazines, journals, and newspapers--not to mention the issue of space required for hard-copy periodicals.)

Two of the principal full-text article databases at Rio Hondo Library are ProQuest Direct and SIRS Researcher. Each requires passwords, and the passwords change from time to time, so consult Kenn or the librarians for updated passwords. (See the "Class Announcements" in WebCT for current passwords.)

Do you remember Josephine and her search for articles related to the following question: Should families of gang members tolerate the violent acts of gangs in their communities? When Josephine went to ProQuest Direct, she used several combinations of search terms from her synonym list: "gangs and communities," "gangs and tolerance," "gangs and acceptance," etc. (She also used "Advanced Searching" to combine multiple search terms--"gangs and communities and tolerance," for example, which allowed only articles containing ALL search terms to be displayed.)

In her ProQuest Direct search of "gangs and communities," Josephine located fifty potentially relevant articles. In her narrowed search of "gangs and communities and tolerance," she found one extremely relevant article from the Washington Post (25 Nov. 2000): "Va. Officer Helps Turn Back Crime; Loudoun Neighbors Laud Community Effort; County Plans to Expand Program."

Using the same search terms in SIRS Researcher, Josephine located 251 and 29 articles, respectively. The most promising article was entitled, "Standing Up to Violence," in the Phi Delta Kappan (January 1995).

Any questions or comments for Kenn?