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Finding journals in Franklin: Franklin keyword hints

By Jane Bryan

The Library's online catalog lists all journals that are currently received in the Penn libraries (with the exception of Biddle Law), plus many older titles. Searching by title (typing t=<name of journal>) is the most direct way to determine whether a journal is at Penn. For example, t=journal of the american oriental society retrieves one record that shows us which library owns the title and which volumes and issues are on hand.

Sometimes, however, finding the exact bibliographic record for a newspaper, annual, or other serial can be tricky, especially if you're working from an abbreviated title or if your Franklin title search results in a long list. Depending upon what information you have, one of several alternative keyword (k=) strategies will be most efficient.

• Combine s.fmt., the format delimiter that specifies "serials," with a few words from the title. Follow the title word(s) with .ti., and use and to combine the two elements in the search statement.

  k=marriage family.ti. and s.fmt.

• Combine periodicals.su.with one or more title words. (The term "periodicals" is often assigned as part of a subject heading for journals.)

  k=semiotics.ti. and periodicals.su.

• For serials sponsored by an organization, combine terms from the organization's name with the format delimiter s.fmt. Follow the terms from the organization's name with .au. (In Franklin the sponsoring organization is treated as the author of the journal.)

  k=american psychological.au. and s.fmt.
  k=stanford.au. and s.fmt.

• Search for the CODEN, a unique six-character identifier for scientific and many social science journals. CODENs are included in article citations from computerized data files such as PSYC or INFO on PennData. Look for the CD or CO fields.

  k=pmosaz finds Perceptual & Motor Skills
  k=argpaq finds Archives of General Psychiatry

• Use the ISSN, the International Standard Serial Number. Format may vary, so try either an eight-character string or two four-character strings separated by a space. ISSNs appear in many CD, online, and PennData files, including ERIC or PSYC on CD, MEDL or PSYC on PennData. Look for the SN or IS field.

  k=0044118x finds Youth & Society
  k=0031 5125 finds Perceptual & Motor Skills