About JSTOR
JSTOR is an online database of backfiles of full image journal articles in the humanities, the social sciences and the sciences.  There are two PCs dedicated to JSTOR use in the library.

Getting to JSTOR
From the JSTOR dedicated PCs located in the Periodical Room, click on the JSTOR icon on the desktop to reach the JSTOR website.  It can also be accessed from the other PCs in the library and by any computer with an Internet connection that uses the Davis & Elkins College server by entering http://www.jstor.org in the Internet browser's address box or by clicking on the highlighted JSTOR here or on the General Resources page.
  
Searching JSTOR
At the JSTOR home page, click on Search to arrive at the Basic Search Screen.

To perform a basic search, follow these steps:

1. Enter keywords in the boxes provided.

For each keyword you enter, choose the field in which you wish to search from the pull down menu to the right of the text box.  You can choose from full text (searches entire body of article as well as author, title and abstract), author, title, or abstract (only 10% of articles have abstracts so this field may not be as useful as it appears).

To search for the plural and singular form of a word at the same time, add + to the singular form.  (cat+ finds cat and  cats.)

To search a phrase, enter multiple words on the same line.

If entering more than one keyword, choose the operator you wish to use from the pull down menu to the left of the second, third, and fourth text boxes.

If you choose the and operator, JSTOR will find articles containing both terms in the field specified.

If you choose the or operator, it will find articles containing either word in the field specified.

If you choose the near operator, it will find articles in which the keywords are within 10 words or within 25 words of each other (depending on which "near" you choose).

2.  Select the discipline or journal(s) to search.

3.  Limit your search if you wish.

You may limit by type of article (articles, reviews, opinion pieces, and other).  "Articles" is the default; you may choose one or more of the other types by checking the appropriate boxes.

You may limit by date by entering a date range in the box provided.  If you do not specify a date range, all dates will be searched.

You may choose how to sort the results using the pull down menu and choosing Highest Scoring, Most Recent, or Oldest.

4.  Submit your search by clicking on the search button.  After a short wait, the "Search Results" screen appears listing the items found.

Viewing the Articles
For each item found, you may choose to view either the citation, the entire article, or one of the pages on which one of your keywords occurs.

Printing
Click on Print found at the bottom of each citation page or  on each page of the article.

Printing options are already set on the dedicated PCs.  If printing options are not set, options will appear.  The JPRINT option produces the fastest and most readable printout.

Viewing Another Article
Click on Search Results found at the top or bottom of each citation or article page to return to the list of articles.

Help Screens
For more detailed help, click on TIPS found at the top and bottom of each page.

Advanced Searching
Advanced searching is best used when you wish to search more than four terms at once or if you wish to "nest" your search statement.  For help with advanced searching, click on the button labeled "Go to the Advanced Search Form."  Reading the "TIPS" for this search is strongly recommended. 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK A LIBRARIAN