home reading lists about the libraries student resources

The following common examples of bibliographic citation are a few of the ones we use in the Concord Middle School libraries to document the various resources accessed by students doing research.  For unique sources (videotape, interview, etc.) see your school librarian .  The middle school uses the MLA style of citing sources. To help you construct your citations, the library recommends NoddleBib Express, a free online bibliography tool from NoodleTools

Books:
Bibliographic information for books is located on the title page. The copyright date may be on the reverse side of the page.
Place of publication is a city.  You do not need to enter the state (or country) if it is well known (New York, London, Sydney, Toronto).  If the city is not well known add the state (Brookfield, CT).
If there is more than one city listed choose the city closest to you or the first city listed.

Periodicals:
All months except May, June and July are abbreviated in the citation.
Do not use "p" to indicate pages.
Use the page number with a plus sign (+) if the article continues on nonconsecutive pages.

Material from an online subcription service:
Resources available from online subscription services are paid for by your school library. Concord MIddle School subscribes to the following resources: Student Resource Center Junior (Infotrac), Middle Search Plus, including the History Reference Database (EBSCO), Grolier Online, and the new Ancient and Medieval History Database (Facts-On-File). Before you cite a resource from an online database first identify the type (encyclopedia article, magazine, reference book, etc). Then choose the appropriate example below, or use NoodleTools to help you construct your citation.

Web Sites :
Include the author or creator of the information of the site, if given.  A web page designer is not always the author, so view the site carefully.
Keep the citation brief and record the URL accurately.
An online reference or periodical article,  including ones available from subscription services, are not considered "web pages".  They provide information from various print resources and have full citations.  See all online database examples below.

Print material

Book with 1 author

Author’s last name, first name. Title.  Place of Publication (city): Publisher,
      copyright date. 

Wallace, Joseph.  The Light Bulb.  New York: Simon & Schuster,
      1999.

Book with 2 or 3 authors
Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan.  The Painter's Eye: Learning to
      Look at Contemporary American Art
New York: Delacorte
      Press, 1991.
Book with more than 3 authors Armento, Beverly, J., et al.  America Will Be.  Boston: Houghton
      Mifflin, 1994.
General encyclopedia article

Article Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.”  Title of
      Encyclopedia, copyright of edition.

Hurt, Douglas. “Cotton Gin.” The World Book Encyclopedia, 1997.

Article from a multi-volume encyclopedia
(using one volume)

Article author’s last name, first name.  “Tile of Article.” Title of
     Encyclopedia. Editor’s name followed by ed., Vol. #. Place of
      publication: Publisher, copyright.

Ackerberg-Hastings, Amy.  “The Automobile Industry.” 
     
Encyclopedia of North American  History.  Ed. John C. Super,  
     Vol. 1.  New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1999.

Article from a multi-volume encyclopedia
(using more than one volume)

Editor of encyclopedia, ed. Title of Encyclopedia. Number of volumes. 
     
Place of Publication: Publisher, copyright.

Super, John C., ed.  Encyclopedia of North American History.  11
      Vols.  New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1999.

Article from a periodical Article author's last name, first name.  "Title of Article." Title of Periodical. 
      date of issue: pages.

Gibson, Karen.  "Eight Women Who Fought the Fight."
      Cobblestone.  Mar. 2000:20-23.

Pamphlet Cite a pamphlet as you would a book (author, Title, publication information)

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.  Siege Trail:
      Big Hole National Battlefield. Yellowstone Library and Museum
      Association, 1976.

Online resources:

Internet site Author of the page, last name first.  Title of page.  date of access <URL>

Bois, Danuta.  Bridget "Biddy" Mason. 2 Feb. 2005
 
    <http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/mason-b.html.>

Online encyclopedia Article author, last name first.  "Article Title."  Title of online encyclopedia
      date of access
      <URL>

Wallechinsky, David. “Olympic Games.”  World Book Reference
 
     Center.
10 Nov. 2003
 
      <http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar402520>

Periodical article from an online database

Author of article (if given, last name first). “Article Title.” Name of Magazine.
     
 Date of Publication: Pages. Name of service: database accessed.
      
Library Name and location, date of access
      <URL>

Example using EBSCO:

Alexander, Caroline.  “Ascent to Glory.” National Geographic. Feb.
      2000:108+
Middle Search Plus. EBSCO. Concord Middle
       School Library, Concord,
MA. 10 Nov. 2003 
  
      <http://search.epnet.com/>.

top