Tutorial on how to understand, find, and access journals, magazines, and trade publications in the Spartanburg Community College Library.

1. Journals, Magazines, and
Trade Publications
Oh my!

2. Table of Contents
Magazines Trade Publications
Definitions Journals

3. Definitions
What are Periodicals?
01

4. Journals, Magazines,
and Trade Publications
are all examples of
periodicals.

5. What’s a
Periodical?
A periodical is a publication
that comes out with a new
issue at regular intervals
(weekly, monthly, or
quarterly).

6. Journals
What is a journal?
What’s published in them?
Why do you use them?
Where are they found?
02

7. ● A journal is a publication that is written by scholars for other scholars to read.
● Because of this, they make assumptions of their readers that they already
know a lot about their topic.
● They are often referred to as scholarly journals/sources.
● Journals go through the peer-review process, which means their articles are
reviewed by other experts in the field before publication.
What is a Journal?

8. What is a Journal?
Why do you use them?What is published in them?
• Scholarly articles
• Journals can be specific to a small
section of a subject area, which
means their articles can also get very
specific to a subject area.
• Great, authoritative sources.
• Articles are written by experts who
know a lot about a subject.

9. ● Mostly found online, but the Library does have some journals in print.
● Online journals are searchable in Library Databases, such as Academic
Search Premier or Gale Power Search.
● Sometimes journals can be found on Google, but they will be behind a paywall
and ask you to pay for access.
Where are they found?

10. Examples of
Journals
International Journal of Mental
Health and Addiction
Advances in Mechanical
Engineering
Intensive and Critical Care
Nursing
American Biology Teacher

11. Magazines
What is a magazine?
What’s published in them?
Why do you use them?
Where are they found?
03

12. ● A publication geared toward a specific subject, but written for the general
public instead of experts.
What is a Magazine?

13. What is a Magazine?
Why do you use them?What is published in them?
• Magazines can be very specific, like
journals, but they are written for a
general audience who are not experts
on the subject.
• Usually written by journalists instead
of experts in the field.
• Since magazine articles are
usually written by journalists and
not experts in the field, they are
not as authoritative as journals.
• Can be great to use for
background research to learn
more about a topic, because they
are written in an accessible way.

14. ● You can find magazines in print in the SCC Library or online.
● Some magazines can be found in databases, just like journals.
Where are they found?

15. Examples of
Magazines
National Geographic Parenting
Sports Illustrated People

16. Trade Publications
What is a trade publication?
What’s published in them?
Why do you use them?
Where are they found?
04

17. ● A publication whose target audience is people who work in a specific industry.
● Also called trade journals or trade papers.
What is a Trade
Publication?

18. What is a Trade
Publication?
Why do you use them?What is published in them?
• Articles to keep industry members
informed of latest developments or
new trends in their industry.
• To learn more about new
advancements in an industry.
• Example: a welder may read an
article in a trade journal to learn a
new welding technique.

19. ● You can find trade publications in print in the SCC Library or online.
● Some trade publications can be found in databases, just like journals.
Where are they found?

20. Examples of Trade
Publications
National Driller Foodservice Monthly
Classic Trucks Massage Therapy Journal

21. CREDITS: This presentation template was created by
Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and infographics &
images by Freepik.
Do you have any questions?
Please ask a librarian!
Thanks!
Please keep this slide for attribution.