Guides for Your Subject
For ideas on where to search for articles and other sources in your area, check out the guide for your major or discipline.
Finding Articles
There are two main ways of searching for articles at WCU.
Searching using the search box on the homepage
- Enter your search terms in the search box on the library's homepage - try using short 2-3 word phrases instead of questions or sentences.
- Then hit Search. You'll see a results screen like the one below.
- To get to the full text of an article, click on Download PDF or Full text available or Online access.
Searching using databases
- Choose a database from our database list. If you're not sure where to start, click on All Subjects and select your major from the list.
- You'll need to log in, using your WCU email address and password.
- In the search boxes that appear after you login, enter you keywords in one or more boxes, and hit search.
- Your results will appear. Click on a title to read more about it.
- If full text isn't available in this database, click on Find It/Check Availability to see if we have it another database.
- On the new page that appears, click the link next to where it says Full text available at and the full text should open.
Requesting a Scanned Copy of a Print Article
If you click on Check Availability and the article is only available in print, you can have the article scanned and sent to you online by:
- Logging in, if you haven't already done so.
- Clicking on the ILLiad for Articles link
- Logging in to your ILLiad account (directions on setting it up as a distance student).
- A page with the articles information now appears. Verify the information is correct.
- Enter a note that the article is only available in print and then click on Submit.
- When the article has been scanned, you'll receive an email.
Requesting an Article that WCU Doesn't Have
If you click on Check Availability and WCU doesn't have it, you can request the article by:
- Logging in, if you haven't already done so.
- Clicking on the ILLiad for Articles link
- Logging in to your ILLiad account (directions on setting it up as a distance student).
- A page with the articles information now appears. Verify the information is correct, and then click on Submit.
- When the article arrives, you'll receive an email. It usually takes 2-3 business days.
