Library Research Database Sources

MLA Quick Guide to Popular Databases

Click on a database title below to see a sample citation:
Academic Onefile | Facts.com – Issues and Controversies | General Reference Center - Gold | General Onefile | NetLibrary (Ebook) | Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center | SIRS Researcher

URLs for Databases

Wondering how you can possibly type the long URL displayed for your article in your works cited? You don't need to. Citations for library research database sources require the URL for the database service, not the URL you see in your browser.

Journal article

Journal with continuous pagination
The page numbers in one issue begin where the previous issue left off, so you do not need to include the issue number.

Example

Morawska, A., and T.P.S. Oei. "Binge Drinking in University Students: A Test of the Cognitive Model." Addictive Behaviors 30 (2005): 203-18. General OneFile. Gale. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 27 July 2005 <http://find.galegroup.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of journal Volume number (year): page range or number of paragraphs. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

Journal with non-continuous pagination
Each issue begins on page 1, so you must include both volume and issue number.

Example

Kil, Hye Ryoung. "Conrad's 'Undying Hope' of the Polish Nation: Western Ideal and Eastern Reality." Mosaic 39.2 (2006): 1-17. Academic OneFile. Gale. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 22 Aug. 2006 <http://find.galegroup.org>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Journal title Volume number.Issue number (publication year): page range or number of paragraphs. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.4a | List of Database Service URLs

Magazine article

Examples

Childress, Sarah. "Frat Hazing: A Dangerous New Drinking Game." Newsweek 8 Dec. 2003: 3-17. General Reference Center Gold. Gale. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 19 June 2005 <http://find.galegroup.com>.

"Liquor Advertising on TV." Issues & Controversies On File 18 Jan. 2002: 49 pars. Issues & Controversies @ FACTS.com. Facts on File News Services. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 22 Apr. 2004 <http://www.2facts.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of magazine Publication date: page range or number of paragraphs. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.7a | List of Database Service URLs

Encyclopedia article

Example

Nordenson, Nancy and Teresa Odle. "Blood Sugar Tests." Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 2006. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 24 Nov. 2006 <http://find.galegroup.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of reference work. Year of publication. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.6.8 and 5.9.7 | List of Database Service URLs

Newspaper article or newswire

Example

Dotinga, Randy. "Quandary for Colleges: How to Battle Binge Drinking." Christian Science Monitor 18 Jan. 2005: 36 pars. SIRS Researcher. Proquest. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 15 Mar. 2005 <http://sks.sirs.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of newspaper Publication date: page range or number of paragraphs. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.4b and 5.9.7a | List of Database Service URLs

Ebook

Example

Bogumil, Mary L. Understanding August Wilson. Columbia: U of South Carolina P, 1999. NetLibrary. OCLC. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 21 Feb. 2006 <http://www.netlibrary.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. Ebook title. Name of editor. Publication information for original print version. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.3a | List of Database Service URLs

Article or chapter in an edited book

Example

Califano, Joseph A. "Drinking Is a Serious Health Problem for Teens." Alcohol. Ed. Karen F. Balkin. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 25 Feb 2005 <http://find.galegroup.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of article author. "Title of article." Title of book. Name of book editor. City of book publication: Name of book publisher, publication date. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.3b | List of Database Service URLs

Dictionary definition

Example

"Renaissance." The Oxford American Dictionary of Current English. 1999. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford UP. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 24 Sept. 2006 <http://www.oxfordreference.com>.

Parts of citation

"Title of entry." Name of dictionary. Edition. Year of publication. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.6.8 and 5.9.7 | List of Database Service URLs

Radio transcript

Example

Flatow, Ira. "A Dire Prediction for the Future of Sea Life." Talk of the Nation. Nat'l Public Radio. 10 Nov. 2006. Transcript. eLibrary Classic. ProQuest. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 24 Nov. 2006 <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author, performer, or other key individual. "Title of transcript." Title of program. Name of network. Date of broadcast. Transcript. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9a | List of Database Service URLs

Podcast

Example

"First Coed College." Profile America. 7 Sept. 2006. General OneFile. Gale. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 24 Oct. 2006 <http://find.galegroup.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author, host or producer. "Title of podcast." Title of program. Release date. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

List of Database Service URLs

eAudiobook

Example

Madden, Thomas F. "God Wills It!": Understanding the Crusades. 2005. Narr. Thomas F. Madden. Audio recording. Recorded Books, 2006. NetLibrary. OCLC. Lansing Community Coll. Lib. 10 Nov 2006. <http://www.netlibrary.com>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. Title of eAudiobook. Publication date of print version. Name of reader. Audio recording. Name of eAudiobook publisher, release date. Name of database. Name of database service. Name of subscribing library. Date of access <Database service URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.8.2 | List of Database Service URLs

Chart

MLA editorial staff recommend citing the article in which the chart appears, without mentioning the chart specifically in the works cited. However, mention the chart in the parenthetical documentation within your paper.

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World Wide Web Sources

Entire website

Examples

MADD. July 2005. Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 3 Aug. 2005 <http://madd.org>.

Kimball's Biology Pages. Ed. John W. Kimball. 2006. 20 Nov. 2006. <http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/>.

Parts of citation

Title of site. Name of site editor. Electronic publication information such as version number, date of publication or last update, name of sponsoring organization. Date of access <Website URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.2

Page or document from a website

Example

Hopson, Krista. "Mott Children’s Hospital Ranked Top Children’s Hospital in State by Child Magazine." University of Michigan Health System. 4 Jan. 2007. 9 Jan. 2007 <http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/childmag.htm>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of the page." Website title. Date of publication or last update. Sponsor of the site (if not named as the author or given as the title). Date of access <Article URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.1

Government publication

Examples

United States. Dept. of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Creative Partnerships: Supporting Youth, Building Communities. Washington: GPO, 2002. 22 Nov. 2006 <http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS24105>.

United States. Department of Health and Human Services. The NHSDA Report: Binge Drinking Among Underage Persons. 9 Apr. 2002. 1 Jan. 2007 <http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k2/AlcBinge/
AlcBinge.cfm>.

Parts of citation

Name of government. Name of agency. Publication title. Name of author. City of publication of print version: Name of publisher of print version, publication date. Date of access <Publication URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.3c

Magazine article

Example

Gleach, Frederic W. "The Ritual World of Pocahontas." Natural History Nov. 2006. 24 Nov. 2006 <http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/1106/1106_feature.html>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of magazine website Date of publication. Date of access <Article URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.4c

Encyclopedia article

Examples

Righelato, Pat. "Daisy Miller." The Literary Encyclopedia. 1 Oct. 2006. Literary Dictionary. 12 Jan. 2007. <http://www.litencyc.com/php/ftsearch.php>.

"Mickey Mouse." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 26 Nov. 2006. Wikimedia Foundation. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of encyclopedia. Date of article. Sponsoring organization. Date of access <Article URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.1

Newspaper article or newswire

Example

"Computer Support Technicians Who Play Well with Others." New York Times 19 Nov. 2006. 21 Nov. 2006 <http://www.nytimes.com/>.

Maxell, Colleen. “Community College.” The State News 11 June 2007. 30 July 2007. <http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=41319>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of article." Title of newspaper website Date of publication. Date of access <Article URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.4b

E-mail

Example

Eiffel, Karen. "Re: Death by Chocolate." E-mail to Harold Crick. 18 March 2006.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of message from subject line." Description of message including recipient's name. Date of message.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9j

Discussion list

Example

Costa, Roy E. "Bread Boards / Egg Boxes Safe at School?" Online posting. 20 Nov. 2006. Foodsafe. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://lists.foodsafetyweb.info>.

Parts of citation

Author's name. "Title of document as given in subject line." Descriptive label. Date posted. Name of forum. Date of access <Discussion list URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9k

Blog

Example

Farkas, Meredith. "Firefox 2 Is My New Best Friend." Information Wants to Be Free. 1 Nov. 2006. 24 Nov. 2006 <http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php>.

Parts of citation

Name of author. "Title of blog entry." Name of blog. Date of blog entry. Date of access. <Blog URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.1

Radio program

Example

Keillor, Garrison. A Prairie Home Companion. 18 Nov. 2006. Minnesota Public Radio. 21 Nov. 2006 <http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2006/11/18/index.shtml>.

Parts of citation

Name of author, performer, or other key individual. Title of program. Date of broadcast. Name of network. Date of access <Program URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9a

Podcast

Example

Allington, Adam. "Invasive Reeds Help Treat Wastewater." The Environment Report. 20 Nov. 2006. Great Lakes Radio Consortium. 27 Nov. 2006 <http://www.glrc.org/mp3/2006/11/20/allington_112006.mp3>.

Parts of citation

Name of author, host or producer. "Title of podcast." Title of program. Release date. Name of organization that sponsors the website. Date of access <Podcast URL>.

Sound recording

Example

Blakey, Art. "The Egyptian." Indestructible. Blue Note, 1964. 22 May 2002 <http://bluenote.com/detail.asp?SelectionID=10257>.

Parts of citation

Name of composer or performer. "Title of work." Title of recording. Name of manufacturer, date of release. Date of access <URL of work>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9b

Television broadcast (webcast)

Example

"Gene Map of Brain Offers Hope for Alzheimer's, Autism." The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. PBS. 29 Nov. 2006. PBS. 2 Dec. 2006 <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec06/brain_11-29.html>.

Parts of citation

Name of author, performer, or other relevant individual(s). "Title of broadcast." Information about the original broadcast, such as title of program, network name and broadcast date. Organization that sponsors the website. Date of access <Broadcast URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9a

Interview

Example

Atwood, Margaret. Interview. Bold Type. May 2003. 25 Sept. 2002 <http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0503/atwood/interview.html>.

Parts of citation

Name of person being interviewed. Interview. Title of publication. Date of publication. Date of access <Interview URL>.

MLA Handbook Chapter 5.9.9e

Examples are based on the MLA Handbook, sixth edition, and assistance provided by MLA editorial staff. When available, MLA rule numbers are referenced from: MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers Ref LB 2369 .G53 2003 (TLC second floor)