Periodicals contain articles, which are good sources to use when researching assignment topics.
Fortunately, tools exist in libraries that allow you to search for articles on your specific topic, so that you will not have to scan dozens of periodicals to see if they have an appropriate article for your topic. Print Indexes Print indexes are periodical indexes in paper, non-electronic format that organize periodical articles by subject. Some examples of print indexes are Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, Social Sciences Index, and The New York Times Index. Print indexes are located on the first floor of the Library behind the reference desk. Print indexes are helpful when performing historical research, since most electronic indexes do not index articles prior to the 1980s.