Overview

This guide can be found under Find Articles Help down to "ERIC: Using the ERIC Database"

There are two types of materials in ERIC:

• journal articles (record numbers starting with EJ)
• ERIC documents (record numbers starting with ED).  ERIC documents include a wide variety of resources such as teaching guides, research reports, bibliographies, issue papers, instructional materials, and test and evaluation instruments

Searching

There is search help available within the database. For further assistance, check out the ERIC Screen Shot Tutorial also available off of the Research Guide page.

Obtaining Journal Articles (EJ's)

Once you have found a record on your screen that you're interested in, you need to determine whether it is available through Bush Library. Click on the Article Linker icon in the upper right hand corner of the record. A new browser window will open. Article Linker will tell you if Bush Library subscribes to the journal in either print or electronic format.

• If Hamline subscribes to the cited journal in electronic format click on available links.
• If Hamline subscribes to the cited journal and issue in print that you need: journals are shelved on the 2nd floor, alphabetically by title.  Copy machines are in the 1st and 2nd floor lobbies.
 
• If Hamline does not own the cited journal and issue: Click here for information on our Interlibrary Loan service.

Obtaining ERIC Documents (ED #s)

ERIC documents are available full text on microfiche (1985-2003), first floor of Bush Library.  ED documents are available online full-text from 1993 and up, with some exceptions such as books.

Once you have identified an ERIC document (ED) you'd like to view: You will need to

• click on Full-Text (upper right corner of the article record). The document should open using Adobe Acrobat.
• If this does not happen - the document may be a book (if it is, there will be an ISBN number in the record.) or the item is older than 1993.

If you are off campus:

• You will need to have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer to view these documents.
The reader is free; click here to download.      

 

Microfiche Full Text

• Bush Library's microfiche collection starts with 1985 and goes through 2003  There are several microfiche reader/printers.  Copying charges are $.10/page.  (Bring dimes.)
  
  If you do not live a convenient distance from Bush Library, there may be a library closer to you that has an ERIC document microfiche collection. These are typically academic libraries or large public libraries. 
  You may also request these documents through an Interlibrary Loan service, either Bush Library's or your public library's. You will receive a microfiche copy of the document, not a paper copy.
  

Some documents may not be available online or in microfiche:

If the record includes an ISBN number, it is a book.  In this case, check CLICnet to see whether Hamline or one of the libraries in our consortium owns it. If not, you can request it through Interlibrary Loan.

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