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JSTOR: Database Introduction & Search Tips

Get help using JSTOR! Learn how to use the Advanced Search; Near 5, 10, or 25 tool; and Topic Search.

JSTOR Introduction

JSTOR provides access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources in 75 disciplines.


What subjects are covered?

Included are core journals in history, economics, political science, and sociology, along with other key fields in the humanities and social sciences. 

Is the information scholarly?

Yes. All the materials in JSTOR are scholarly and academic. Almost all articles are peer-reviewed. However, some articles pre-date today's standard peer-review process.

You can find a large selection of primary sources in JSTOR – obviously, these would not have gone through a peer-review process.

Why can't I always find the full text of an article? 

JSTOR contains many different collections--not all of which we subscribe to. You can use Interlibrary Loan to get the full-text article.

What period of time does it cover?

Unlike many other databases, JSTOR does not contain publications' most recent articles. Articles are typically added 3 to 5 years after publication, in what is referred to as a moving wall.

Can I access it off-campus?

Yes! You can access it anywhere and at any time through the library website.