Article Databases
Here are a few places you can find articles from newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals. Remember that you will have to login with your myNOVA username and password (the same ones you use to access Canvas, student email, etc.).
- Academic Search Complete (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
A multi-disciplinary database which offers information in many areas of academic study. This database supports high-level research in the key areas of academic study by providing access to journals, periodicals, reports, books and more. (VIVA) - JSTOR This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Scholarly journals; does not include the most recent few years. (NVCC) - Opposing Viewpoints (Gale In Context) This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Essays, magazines, journals, newspapers, statistics, primary sources; focus is on controversial issues. (VCCS)
- Religion and Philosophy Collection (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Citations and full-text journal articles. Subject coverage includes world religions, major denominations, biblical studies, religious history, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of language, moral philosophy and the history of philosophy. (VIVA)
Why can't I just use Google?
This video by Yavapai College Library in Prescott, Arizona demonstrates the different types of information found in Google versus library databases.
Click the 
icon located in the bottom right corner to watch the video in fullscreen mode.
Where do I find articles?
Articles are published in periodicals, which is any type of publication published at a regular interval (weeks, months, etc.). Periodical types include magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and scholarly journals. It is important to understand what kind of periodical will have the articles you need. More information on finding peer-reviewed articles.
Searching Library Databases
Search Tips
Identify Your Keywords
Select the most important 2-3 keywords. These are terms related to your topic. Your keywords could be:
prayer, church, schools
Compose Your Search String
In order to find information in a database, you must create a search string. This is a combination of keywords and search operators (e.g. AND, OR, *) that tells the database the information you want to receive. Here are a few tips:
1. Use quotation marks ( " " ) around phrases (two or more words); this tells the database to look for the words in a specific order.
"school prayer"
2. Put the word AND between each new keyword or phrase; this tells the database to look for resources with ALL your keywords.
"school prayer" AND church
3. Use an asterisk ( * ) to find multiple versions of one keyword. For example, using pray* as a search term will include results that refer to ppray, prayer, prayers, and praying.
pray*