CSU Library Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Where can I find articles in the library?

A: On the main library page, utilize the Knight Search box for searching your keywords, or click the Databases button and choose a database title from the list that appears. You can also contact a CSU librarian for a database recommendation. Check out our Finding Articles Quick Start Guide or click here for a short video on how to find articles.

Q: How do I search for peer-reviewed or scholarly articles?

A: Peer-reviewed or scholarly articles can be found in most of our online databases. Once inside a database, look for a box to check labeled "scholarly" or "peer reviewed." For more information, click here for a short video on how to find peer-reviewed articles.

Q: How do I choose the right database for my topic?

A: For information about the topics covered by the individual databases, click A-Z Databases and review the brief descriptions found below the database titles or contact a CSU librarian for a database recommendation.

Q: How do I save or download an article from a database?

A: To save a permanent URL link back to an article record page, look for the Permalink option under the Tools on the right side of the record page of the article or e-book you are viewing. To download an article to your computer for later use, look on the article's detailed record page for a link to PDF Full Text or HTML Full Text.

Q: What does "peer-reviewed" mean?

A: Peer-reviewed articles, sometimes called scholarly or academic articles, are research studies or critical overviews of industry topics that are written by subject experts ("peers") and reviewed by other experts in the field before publication in order to ensure the articles' quality. See this guide to learn more about identifying peer-reviewed articles and how to find them in the CSU Library.

Q: I have an article title/citation. How do I search for it in the library databases?

A: In the Knight Search on the library home page, type part or all of the article title inside quotation marks in the keyword search box. On the next screen, look for the “Supplemental Sources” section in the left column, click it, and choose the “ProQuest Searching” button. In the search box on the next page, type part or all of the article title in quotation marks. Check out the How to Conduct Title Searches video tutorial for further assistance.

Q: How do I search for a specific journal, magazine, or newspaper?

A: On the library home page, click the E-Journals button, and choose Publication Finder. Type the name of the specific journal in the box on the page that comes up and search. If the library has coverage of the journal, its name will come up in the list. Listed below the name of the journal will be one or more library databases where the journal is located. View this related guide for this step-by-step process. *Note: Sometimes journals that are housed in a ProQuest database will not come up in the Publication Finder.