Introduction

What’s an article? What’s a journal? Is there a difference between books and eBooks? This section explains some of the most common types of resources.

Academic Journals and Journal Articles

Academic journals, sometimes called “peer reviewed” or “scholarly” journals are ideal for finding in-depth current research in a specific area. They publish academic or scholarly articles. These articles are written by experts in a field of study. They’re longer, written in an academic style, use professional terminology and language, and the topic of the article is narrowly focused and explored in-depth. They’re heavy on text and light on illustration, but may contain charts, graphs, and other statistical data. The content in the article is typically based on either original research or authorities in the field, instead of personal opinion. Sources are well cited in a particular format, like APA Style, and there are both in-text citations or foot- or endnotes, and a bibliography or works cited page. Often, journal issues will have a volume and issue number – like Volume 6 Issue 4. Journal covers are usually plain with an emphasis on the key research articles in a particular issue.

Examples of Academic Journals

• Journal of Environmental Health
• Canadian Medical Association Journal
• Canadian Social Work Review

Books and eBooks

Books provide overviews, background, history and introductions as well as in-depth examinations of topics. We get lots of questions about the differences between books and eBooks, and which one is better. The only difference between books and eBooks is access and format; print books are physical items and eBooks are digital files that can be accessed from a variety of devices. The content and quality are the same.

Examples of Books

• Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
• Elements of Indigenous Style by Gregory Younging
• The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy by Robert S. Porter

Dictionaries

Dictionaries help us to understand key terms. Most people are familiar with defining dictionaries – the ones that give definitions of words, like the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). There are also bilingual or translation dictionaries, which are used to translate words or phrases from one language to another. Finally, there are specialized or technical dictionaries, which focus on one topic or field of study. These are useful for terms that are unique to a certain subject area. Dictionaries can be in print or electronic, and there are free online dictionaries.

Examples of Dictionaries

• Oxford English Dictionary
• Collins and Robert school French-English Dictionary
• Black’s Law Dictionary

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias provide short overviews or summaries of a subject. They can cover a broad range of subjects, or focus on one particular discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articles or entries that are arranged alphabetically by article name and sometimes by theme, and these entries are longer and more detailed than an entry in a dictionary. Encyclopedias can be in print or electronic, and there are free online encyclopedias.

Examples of Encyclopedias

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health
• The Anime Encyclopedia

Literature Review

A summary and explanation of the current research – or literature – on a focused topic. A information being summarized and explained might be found in academic books, journal articles, or other sources connected to the subject of study. Literature reviews aim to provide an overview of sources that were explored while researching a particular topic. It shows readers how the research fits into a larger field of study.

Newspapers and Newspaper Articles

A newspaper is a publication, usually issued daily or weekly, printed on large, folded sheets of newsprint, usually in black and white. They contain news, feature articles, advertisements, and correspondence. Many newspapers also publish articles online, and newspaper articles can sometimes be found in library databases. Newspaper articles are written by journalists who may or may not be experts in the subject of the article, and the articles are not peer-reviewed. The articles are written for a general audience, are free of technical jargon and easy to understand. They don’t always follow a specific structure, and don’t have foot- or endnotes, and don’t cite sources using a bibliography or works cited page.

Examples of Newspapers

• Belleville Intelligences
• Toronto Star
• New York Times

Popular Magazines

Popular magazines provide information on current events, or for brief, non-scholarly articles. You can tell the difference between scholarly journals and popular magazines by their appearance. Popular magazines are usually glossy with colour photos and covers and lots of advertising. The articles are written by journalists and authors who may or may not be experts in the subject of the article, and the articles are not peer-reviewed. The articles are written for a general audience, are free of technical jargon and easy to understand. They don’t always follow a specific structure, and don’t have foot- or endnotes, and don’t cite sources using a bibliography or works cited page. Articles from magazines are not considered scholarly, but can be used to supplement scholarly sources.

Examples of Popular Magazines

• Time Magazine
• National Geographic
• MacLean’s

Report

A report is a document or a statement that presents information in an organized format for a specific audience and purpose. There are multiple kinds of reports, including annual reports, government reports, technical reports and research reports.

Trade Journals

A trade journal, sometimes called a trade magazine, is a journal that targets a specific industry or trade. The articles in a trade journal focus on news, trends, and other topics of interest in that industry, and any ads are targeted at people in the profession. It’s important to remember that while articles from trade journals are often considered scholarly and the articles are written by experts in the field, they are not typically peer-reviewed.

Examples of Trade Journals

• Advertising Age
• Chemical Week
• Education Week

Webpages and Websites

A webpage (or web page) is a document that can be displayed in a web browser likeFirefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari. A website is a collection of web pages that are grouped together and usually connected in some day. A website is sometimes called a site.

Examples of Websites

• www.loyalistlibrary.com
• www.loyalistcollege.com