Follow the Citations
Citation searching is one of the most important aspects of scholarly research. It can also be time consuming, especially if the item has to come from another library. So, be sure to start the research process early to give yourself enough time to get and read the citations you find. See our Citation Searching page for details on finding materials that were cited in an article and how many times that article has been cited by other scholars.
The first step is to identify what type of source it is: an article in a journal, a chapter of a book, or a whole book.
Backward Citation Searching
Looking at the works cited by an author is called backward citation searching. The author's bibliography gives you a snapshot of the thinking and research available at the time of publication. It tells you what ideas or theories have influenced the author.
Forward Citation Searching
Finding out whether a work has been cited after its publication will help you assess the importance of that work and how it has shaped subsequent research and scholarship. This is called forward citation searching. Forward citation can also help you update your research, staying up-to-date with current scholarly literature in your subject of interest.
Locating Articles
Use the library catalog to see if Williams has access to the article, either in print or through digital subscription. If we own the article electronically, you can access the pdf. If we only own the article in print, use the CALL NUMBER and LOCATION to find the full issue and scan the article to pdf format. If we don't have a copy, use Interlibrary Loan to borrow a copy from another library.
Other ways to get help:
Call us at 413-597-4500
Text us at 413-648-6071
Stop by during our service hours.