 Every library subscribes to a number of magazines which contain much information that cannot be found in books or which is too recent to have appeared in book form. These magazines are used first for general reading in the reading room. The back issues are saved and stored for future use. This magazine index lists authors, subjects, and some titles, alphabetically and in bold type. Poetry is listed under the subject, "Poems"; movies under "moving Picture Plays." Title entries are usually used for stories only. In looking up a title entry for a story, you usually find a reference to the author. To find the reference to the magazine, you must then consult the author entry. Example:
Under the author entry, the titles of the articles appear in alphabetical order. After you have found your author and selected the article you want to read, copy the name of the magazine, the volume number, inclusive paging, and the date. If you have access to the shelves, you can get the desired volume. If not, ask the librarian to get it for you. The Readers' Guide, as it is often called, is an index to help you find articles, stories, and poems that have been published in magazines. It is published in paperback twice monthly except for once-a-month editions in July and August. Paperback editions are combined quarterly and then bound together in one volume yearly. Therefore, provided you have a definite period of time in mind concerning your topic, it is very easy to locate relevant information. A list of indexed magazines can be found toward the front of each paperback. Each volume serves as a small card catalog. Both author and subject entries appear in one alphabetical listing. Unlike a card catalog, however, the title of an article is not usually indexed--for a good reason. You refer to the Readers' Guide most frequently in search of information on a particular subject. (Note: Some magazines will not be listed. Instead, they publish their own indexes. National Geographic is a good example. Once you understand how to read the entries in Readers' Guide, however, you will be able to read all other indexes.) To locate magazine articles quickly, make notations of the information given in the Readers' Guide. Look up back issues of bound editions of the magazines according to their volume numbers, their dates, and their page numbers. Practice using the Readers' Guide. It is a valuable reference source for up-to-date information, as well as for information in the past which was newsworthy. The key to success when seeking information in the Readers' Guide or any other index is imagination. You must be able to think of several different ways in which a particular topic might be classified. Then continue to search. Many words and the titles of these magazines are abbreviated to save space. An explanation of the abbreviations may be found in the front of each issue of the Guide. Similar to cards in a card catalog, entries in the Readers' Guide use abbreviations wherever possible to save space. Examples of names of magazines usually abbreviated: Hist Today History TodayBe sure to consult the key to abbreviations in the front of each Guide if you have any questions. Click on the following links for more information
about how to use the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature.
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