Modern Language Association Bibliography (MLAIB) via Cambridge Scientific Abstracts

Contents & Access | Searching | Display | Exporting Results | Further Assistance

Contents and Access

What does this database contain?
The MLAIB is an index to citations of critical scholarship in modern literature, criticism, language, linguistics, and folklore. Materials indexed include journal articles, dissertations, proceedings, books, and book chapters. Some journals are indexed selectively. The database does not include entries for book reviews, pedagogy, or Ancient / Classical languages.

Where do I access this database?
Through the UTSA Library web page (http://www.lib.utsa.edu) under Databases & Article Searching > A - Z

Available off-campus?
Yes, to UTSA faculty, staff and currently enrolled students.

Full Text of articles available online?
There may be links to full text articles outside the database.

Language of articles?
The majority of records are from English-language publications, but at least sixty other languages are represented including French, Spanish, German, Russian, Portuguese, Norwegian, and Swedish. Choose "Language" from pull down menu to limit to a specific language. Search can be limited to a specific language in command line searching (example: LA=spanish)

What is the date coverage of citations?
Articles in the database are from 1963 to current. Updated 9 times a year.

List of publications included in this database?
From the CSA Select Database screen, click the "?" icon next to the database name, then "Serials Source List" under "Quick Links"

Searching

Basic search terms?
and (all terms must be present)
or (at least one of the terms must be present)
not (must not contain term)

How do I search for a name?
In "advanced search" choose "author" from pull down menu, and type last name, first name.
Example: smith, john

What major fields are available for searching?

In Quick or Advanced Search, from pull down menu under search box choose the field to find words in:
"Keywords" (to find words in title, abstract, or descriptor)
"Title" (words in the title of an article)
"Author" (author of an article or book)

"Source" (journal title)
"Anywhere" (words in full record)

More options are available in the "Advanced Search." See online help screen for more options.

Is there a thesaurus or subject/term list?
Yes, under "Search Tools" tab.

How do I make a phrase?
Phrase is the default in Quick and Advanced Search. Terms do not need to be placed in quotes.

How do I limit by Date?
Choose dates from pull down menus under search box.

Truncation?
Use * to retrieve various forms of a word. May occur at end or within a word.
politic* (retrieves politics, political, politician, politicians, etc.)
Use ? for a single character. (example: fib?? for fiber or fibre)

Can I review my past searches?
Yes. Click "Search History" link at top to review previous searches.

Display

How do I display and sort the articles?
Choose "full format " or "short format " from pull down box to choose how citations will display. After submitting search, a list of citations to journal articles will appear. Click on "view record" to see complete record and summary of article. Check UCAT to see if UTSA owns the journal or book. Use e-journal Locator to see if journal is full text.

Special Features?
Check box next to citations of interest. After all desired articles are checked, click "Save/Print/Email" to display citations in a single list for printing, e-mailing or downloading. (See below)

Printing, Downloading, E-mailing

How do I print?
To print all or marked citations, click on "Save/Print/Email" link at top of the search, choose current search or marked citations, choose a format, and click "print preview. " Citations will appear in a single list. Click print button at top of browser.

Can I download or save the list?
Yes. To download all or marked citations, click on "Save/Print/Email" link at top of the search, choose current search or marked citations, choose a format, and click "print preview. " All records will display in a single list. Under File from the pull down menu at the top of your browser; choose "save as"; type in a:\mydoc.txt (make sure you give each file a unique name if you are saving more than one); choose "save file type as" and select "Plain Text"; click on OK.

Can I e-mail an article to myself?
Yes. Click on "Save/Print/Email" link at top of search. Choose current search or marked citations, choose a format, enter an e-mail address in the box and click "e-mail" button.

Help

Where do I go for more help?
Click on "Help and Support " link at top of screen for more detailed instructions. Feel free to ask at the Reference Desk or contact us for more assistance: (210)458-4573 or 2440.