Library Research Database Sources

APA 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

Dictionary definition

Example

Abate, F. (1999). Rennaisance. In The Oxford American dictionary of current English. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved January 31, 1999, from Oxford Reference Online database.

Parts of citation

Name of Editor. (Year of publication). Title of entry. In Name of dictionary. (Edition number, Volume number, page range). City where print version published: Name of print publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #30,38 (pp. 250, 254)

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

Smeaton, G. L., & Josiam, B. M. (1998). College students’ binge drinking at beach-front destination during spring break. Journal of American College Health, 46, 247-251. Retrieved August 1, 2002, from General OneFile database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of journal, volume number, page range. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

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

Example

Frank, T. H. (1995). The interpretation of limits: Doctors and novelists in the fiction of Philip Roth. Journal of Popular Culture, 8(4), 67-80. Retrieved January 29, 2007, from Academic Onefile database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Title of journal, volume number(issue number), page range. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #88 (p. 279)

Magazine article

Examples

Childress, S. (2003, December 8). Frat Hazing: A Dangerous New Drinking Game. Newsweek. Retrieved June 19, 2005, from General Reference Center Gold database.

Liquor Advertising on TV. (2002, January 18). Issues & Controversies on File. Retrieved April 22, 2004, from Issues & Controversies @ FACTS.com database.

Scrivo, K. L. (1998, March 20). Can college campuses get it under control? CQ Researcher, 8, 241. Retrieved August 1, 2002, from CQ Researcher database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of magazine, volume number, page range. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #6,88 (pp. 241, 278)

Encyclopedia article

Example

Nordenson, N. & Odle, T. (2006). Blood sugar tests. In Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 588-591). Detroit, MI: Gale. Retrieved January 5, 2006, from Gale Virtual Reference Library database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of entry. In Name of encyclopedia. (Edition number, Volume number, page range). City of publication: Name of publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #30,38,88 (pp. 250, 254, 278)

Newspaper article or newswire

Examples

Dotinga, R. (2005, January 18). Quandary for colleges: How to battle binge drinking. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved March 15, 2005, from SIRS Researcher database.

Glauber, B. (1998, February 14). American college students aren’t in a class by themselves on drinking. The Dallas Morning News, p. C11. Retrieved August 1, 2002, from Custom Newspapers database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Date of publication). Title of article. Name of newspaper, page range. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #9-11, 88 (pp. 242-243, 278)

Ebook

Example

Bonnie, R. J., & O’Connell, M. (2003). Reducing underage drinking: A collective responsibility. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Retrieved August 1, 2005, from NetLibrary database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of book. City where print version was published: Name of print publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #34 (p. 252)

Article or chapter in an edited book

Example

Mallory, E. (1997). Alcohol abuse is a serious problem among college students. In P. A. Winters (Ed.), Current controversies: Teen addiction. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press. Retrieved August 1, 2002, from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database.

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Year of publication). Title of article. Name of editor, Title of book (page range in book). City where print version was published: Name of print publisher. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #34 (p. 252)

Chart

APA editorial staff recommend citing the article in which the chart appears, without mentioning the chart specifically in the references list. However, mention the chart in the in-text documentation within your paper.

Radio transcript

Example

Flatow, I. (Host). (2006, November 10). A dire prediction for the future of sea life [Radio transcript]. Talk of the Nation. Washington, DC: National Public Radio. Retrieved November 24, 2006, from eLibrary Classic.

Parts of citation

Name of originator or primary producer. (Function of originator or primary producer). (Date of broadcast). Title of radio transcript [Radio transcript]. Name of radio program. City: Name of Distributor. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #66 (p. 267)

Podcast

Example

Montagne, R. (Host). (2007, January 16). 'Dreamgirls' a Golden-Globe success story [Podcast]. Morning Edition. Washington DC: National Public Radio. Retrieved October 24, 2006, from General Onefile database.

Parts of citation

Name of author, host or producer. (Function of author, host, producer). (Podcast release date). Title of podcast [Podcast]. Title of program. City: Name of Distributor. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database.

APA Manual 4.16 #66 (p. 267)

eAudiobook

There is no period at the end of this type of citation.

Example

Bartlett, W. (2006). "God wills it!": Understanding the Crusades [eAudiobook]. Retrieved November 10, 2006, from NetLibrary. (Original work published 2005)

Parts of citation

Name of author. (eAudiobook release date). Title of book [eAudiobook]. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Name of database. (Original work published Year of Publication)

APA Manual 4.16 #32 (p. 251)

World Wide Web Sources

Entire website

When publication date is not available, use n.d. (no date).

Examples

Kimball's biology pages. (2006). Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). (2005, July). Retrieved August 3, 2005, from http://madd.org

Parts of citation

Title of website. (Publication date). Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Website URL

APA Manual 4.16 #77 (pg. 274)

Page or document from a website

Example

Hopson, K. (2007, January 4). Mott Children’s Hospital ranked top children’s hospital in state by Child Magazine. University of Michigan Health System. Retrieved January 9, 2007, from http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/childmag.htm

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Publication date) Title of the page. Website title. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Article URL

APA Manual 4.16 #76 (p. 273)

Government publication

Examples

United States. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (2002). Creative partnerships: Supporting youth, building communities. (Publication No. J36.2:IN6/P25). Retrieved November 22, 2006, from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS24105

United States. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002, April 9). The NHSDA report: Binge drinking among underage persons. Retrieved January 1, 2007, from http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k2/AlcBinge/AlcBinge.cfm

Parts of citation

Sponsoring agency. (Date of publication). Publication title. (Publication Number). Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Publication URL

APA Manual 4.16 #91 (p. 279)

Magazine article

Example

Gleach, F. W. (2006, November). The ritual world of Pocahontas. Natural History. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/1106/1106_feature.html

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of magazine website. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Article URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

Encyclopedia article

If the entry has no author listed, place the title in author position.

Examples

Righelato, P. (2006, October 1). Daisy Miller. In The literary encyclopedia. Retrieved on January 12, 2007, from http://www.litencyc.com/php/ftsearch.php

Mickey Mouse. (2006, November 26). In Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. Retrieved November 26, 2006, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse

Parts of citation

Author of article. (Publication date). Title of article. In Title of encyclopedia. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Article URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

Newspaper article or newswire

Example

Carr, C. (2006, November 19). Computer support technicians who play well with others. New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2006, from http://www.nytimes.com/

Maxell, C. (2007, June 11). Community college. The State News. Retrieved July 30, 2007, from http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=41319

Parts of citation

Name of author. (Publication date). Title of article. Title of newspaper website. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Article URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

E-mail

Personal communications such as email are not cited in the references list, only in text.

APA Manual 3.102 (p. 276)

Discussion list

Personal communications such as discussion groups are not cited in the references list, only in text.

APA Manual 3.102 (p. 276)

Blog

Example

Farkas, M. (2006, November 1). Firefox 2 is my new best friend. Information wants to be free. Retrieved November 24, 2006, from http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php

Parts of citation

Author of blog entry. (Date of blog entry). Title of blog entry. Title of blog. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Blog URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

Radio program

Example

Keillor, G. (Host). (2006, November 18). A prairie home companion. [Radio broadcast]. Washington, DC: National Public Radio. Retrieved November 21, 2006, from http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2006/11/18/index.shtml

Parts of citation

Name of originator or primary producer. (Function of originator or primary producer). (Date of broadcast). Name of radio program. [Radio broadcast]. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Website URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

Podcast

Example

Allington, A. (Producer). (2006, November 20). Invasive reeds help treat wastewater. The environment report. [Podcast]. Retrieved November 27, 2006, from http://www.glrc.org/mp3/2006/11/20/allington_112006.mp3

Parts of citation

Name of author, host or producer. (Function of author, host or producer). (Podcast release date). Title of podcast. Title of program. [Podcast]. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Podcast URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

Sound recording

Example

Blakey, A. (1964). The Egyptian. Indestructible. Blue Note. [Sound recording]. Retrieved May 22, 2002, from http://bluenote.com/detail.asp?SelectionID=10257

Parts of citation

Name of composer or performer. (Recording release date). Title of individual work. Title of recording from which work comes. [Sound recording]. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Recording URL

APA Manual 4.16 #69 (p. 267)

Television broadcast (webcast)

Example

Dentzer, S. (Host). (2006, November 29). Gene map of brain offers hope for Alzheimer's, autism. The news hour with Jim Lehrer. [Webcast]. Arlington, VA: PBS. Retrieved December 2, 2006, from 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). (Function of author, performer, or other relevant individuals). (Broadcast date). Title of webcast. Title of program. [Webcast]. City where distributor located: Name of distributor. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Webcast URL

APA Manual 4.16 #89 (p. 279)

Interview

Example

Bateman, C. (2003, May). A conversation with Margaret Atwood. Bold Type. Retrieved September 25, 2002, from http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0503/atwood/interview.html

Parts of citation

Name of interviewer. (Interview date). Title of interview. Title of website. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from Interview URL

APA Manual #76 (p. 273)

Examples are based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, fifth edition, and assistance provided by APA editorial staff. When available, APA rule numbers are referenced from: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association Ref BF 76.7 .P83 2001 (TLC second floor)