Library Services

How To Cite Electronic Sources (MLA)

For more information on MLA Style, see: Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5^th ed. New York: MLA, 1999. 178-202. Athens Reference LB2369 .G53 1999

Citing a Web Site

Citations of electronic sources and those of print sources should accomplish the same ends and have the same or similar formats. Both types of citations identify a source and give sufficient information to allow a reader to locate it. A citation for an online text contains the date assigned to the document in the source as well as the date on which the researcher accessed the document. URLs should be given and enclosed in angle brackets (< >). In case the URL changes in the future, it is important to also include other identifying information (e.g., author's name, title), so that the reader may locate the material with a network browser.

A Complete Scholarly Project or Information Database:

Citation consists of (1) the title of the project or database, underlined; (2) Name of the editor of the project, if given; (3) Electronic publication information, including date of publication or latest update, and name of any sponsoring institution or organization; as well as (4) date of access, and network address (URL).

Example:

The History Channel Online. 1998. History Channel. 19 June 1998 <http://historychannel.com/>.

A Document within a Scholarly Project or Information Database:

Begin the citation with the author's name and, in quotation marks, the title of the work. If no author is given, begin the citation with the title of the material, in quotation marks.

Example:

"This Day in History: August 20." The History Channel Online. 1998. History Channel. 19 June 1998 <http://historychannel.com/thisday/today/980820.html>.

A Professional or Personal Site:

Begin with the name of the person who created the site, if available. Continue with the title of the site (underlined), or, if there is no title, with a description such as Home page; the name of any institution or organization associated with the site; the date of access; and the URL.

Example of a Personal Site:

Lancashire, Ian. Home page. 1 May 1998 <http://www.chass.utoronto.ca:8080?~ian/>.

Example of a Professional Site:

Romance Languages and Literatures Home Page. 1 Jan. 1997. Dept. of Romance Langs. And Lits., U of Chicago. 8 July 1998 <http://humanities.uchicago.edu/romance/>.

Creating References for Articles

Obtained From Electronic Databases Like GALILEO & netLibrary

CD-ROM Database:

Example of a Non-Periodical Publication:

Cite a non-periodical publication on CD-ROM as you would a book, but add a description of the medium of publication.

Magill's Survey of Science. CD-ROM. 1998 ed. Pasadena: Salem, 1998.

Example of a Periodical Publication:

Citation contains (1) author's name, (2) publication information, (3) title of the database (underlined), (4) publication medium (CD-ROM), (5) name of the vendor, and (6) electronic publication date.

Guidelines for Family Television Viewing. Urbana: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Educ., 1990. ERIC. CD-ROM. SilverPlatter. June 1993.

Databases Accessed through an Online Service (e.g., GALILEO):

To cite online material without a URL that you derive from a service to which a library subscribes, complete the citation by stating the name of the database used (underlined); the name of the service; and the date of access. If you know the URL of the service's home page, give it, in angle brackets, immediately after the date of access.

Example of a Magazine Article from GALILEO:

Swibel, Mary. "Deans of the Dais." Forbes 19 Mar. 2001: 166. Academic Search Elite. GALILEO. 21 Mar. 2001. <http://galileo.gsu.edu/Homepage.cgi>.

Example of a Periodical Article from GALILEO:

Tangum, Maurice Manley, and Morris Smelstor. "Hurston's and Angelou's Visual Art: The Distancing Vision and the Beckoning Gaze." The Southern Literary Journal 31.1 (1998): 77-80. WilsonSelectPlus. GALILEO. 21 Mar. 2001 <http://galileo.gsu.edu/Homepage.cgi>.

Example of a Newspaper Article from GALILEO:

Noonan, Edward. "Watching those Earth Moves Local Students are Monitoring Quake Data." Boston Globe 28 Jan. 2001: A1. Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe. GALILEO. 21 Mar. 2001 <http://galileo.gsu.edu/Homepage.cgi>.

Example of an Encyclopedia Article from GALILEO:

"Osteoarthritis." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1999-2000. Britannica.com. GALILEO. 26 Mar. 2001 <http://galileo.gsu.edu/Homepage.cge>.

Example of an Electronic Book from netLibrary via the ATC Library Catalog:

Schlachter, George Albert. Financial Aid for native Americans, 1999-2001. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service P, 1999. netLibrary. Athens Technical College Library. 21 Mar. 2001 < http://hornet.athenstech.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi/0/49>.

Example of the Same Electronic Book from netLibrary via GALILEO:

Schlachter, George Albert. Financial Aid for Native Americans, 1999-2001. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service P, 1999. netLibrary. GALILEO. 21 Mar. 2001 < http://galileo.gsu.edu/Homepage.cge>.

Example of a Chapter from an Electronic Book:

Arthur, Vincent. "The Role of the Nurse Specialist in Rheumatology." Rheumatology for Nurses: Patient Care. Ed. Peter Le Gallez. London: Whurr, 1998. 12-45. netLibrary. Athens Technical College Library. 21 Mar. 2001 <http://hornet.athenstech.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi/0/40>.