Journals / Journal Articles

Learn more about searching for specific academic journals, popular periodicals or searching for articles, peer-reviewed or otherwise.

Searching for articles or eBooks

Databases

The first option is to search for your topic directly in a database. The advantage of this is that you don't need to search for the full-text after finding an article that's relevant. On the other hand, you may need to perform that same search in several databases.

BI-accessible databases are indexed in here.

Advantage: Full-text is immediately available to view / download.

Disadvantage: Only searches the journals available in the database being searched.


Academic Search Engines

Using an academic search engine is a convenient way to search across many databases and journals at once, and while academic search engines sometimes link directly to full-texts (especially Open Access materials), you will often need to find the full-text using a research database once you have the citation.

Advantage: The ability to search thousands of journals at once.

Disadvantage: Doesn't always offer full-text of citations.

Google Scholar

Strengths and Weaknesses of Google Scholar

Google Scholar Strengths

Google Scholar Weaknesses
  • Getting the “big picture” of the scholarly discourse around a topic.
  • Viewing books, articles, conference proceedings, and more in one list.
  • Determining authors and publications in an area of interest.
  • Tracking down incomplete citations.
  • Limiting and sorting results by type (eg. peer reviewed articles, full-text, reviews).
  • Searching within a specific discipline
  • Browsing by journal title.
  • Doing a comprehensive search for a literature review.
  • Using controlled vocabulary to search by subject.
  • Emailing lists of search results.

Table 1. Google Strengths & Weaknesses, from NYU Libraries. Advanced Google Searching: Google ScholarNYU Libraries. New York University. 29 Nov 2017.<https://guides.nyu.edu/googlescholar>.

BASE

BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine) is a multi-disciplinary search engine to scholarly internet resources, created by Bielefeld University Library in Bielefeld, Germany. As of 2022, it had indexed over 280 million documents from over 9000 sources.1

CORE

CORE (COnnecting REpositories) is a service provided by the Knowledge Media Institute based at The Open University, United Kingdom.1

Finding full-text with citations

After finding a citation with an academic search engine or via the bibliography of an already acquired source, it's time to find the full-text.

Option 1: Search EZB to see if BI has access to the journal

Option 2: Search the BAU Discovery System to see if the journal is available from BAU

Option 3: Use the BAU EZProxy Bookmarklet to immediately see if full-text is available via BAU


Discovery Systems (Combined Search)

Discovery systems try to combine the two search methods described below by searching across many databases at once AND providing full-text access. Barbaros Library provides a discovery system that can be used to search most of their collections at once. Click here for more information.

Advantage: Searches many databases at once and provides access to full-text.

Disadvantage: Only searches the collections of one institution and cannot be integrated with all databases.

1 Source: Wikipedia

BI Holdings: Journals and Databases

Search or browse thousands of journals available to BI students and faculty.

BI Holdings: Journals and Databases

Research Database Index - Browse all BI databases

The Research Database Index is an index of all research databases available to the Bi community. Students and faculty at BI have access to hundreds of research databases from several different sources.

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BI Holdings: Journals and Databases

EZB - Browse all BI journals


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The EZB (Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek) is a service to facilitate the use of scholarly journals on the Internet. It offers a fast, structured and unified interface to access full-text articles online.


Partnership: Barbaros Library Journals and Databases (BAU)

Through a partnership with Bahçeşehir University, BI students and faculty have access to hundreds of additional databases and thousands of journals and eBooks.

Partnership: Barbaros Library Journals and Databases (BAU)

BAU Research Databases

Through a partnership with Bahçeşehir University (BAU),  BI students and faculty members have access to dozens of research databases.

BAU databases are indexed in the Research Database Index.

Searching all BAU holdings at once with a discovery system

When searching BAU databases, the best place to start is BAU Academic Search (discovery system). This portal allows you to search the contents of all BAU databases1 at once, plus the eBook collections of BAU Libraries.

Don't forget: to access BAU databases, you will need your BI UMIS credentials.

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At this point, if you have not already signed into the BAU Proxy during your current session, you must log in with your UMIS credentials.

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1Well almost all... The following databases are not included in BAU Academic Search and must be searched individually:

Partnership: Barbaros Library Journals and Databases (BAU)

BAU EZProxy Bookmarklet

How it works

If you search BAU databases directly, you are asked to provide login credentials to gain 'proxied' access to resources. In cases where you go directly to a publisher's site without having logged in ("proxied"), you will not be recognised as having access. For these cases, the EZProxy Browser Bookmarklet will allow you to log in without first going back to the BAU web site. A bookmarklet is like a browser extension but more lightweight and can be used on any browser that supports bookmarks,  including mobile browsers.

Once added you will see EZProxy - BAU in your menu bar. Click on EZProxy - BAU and the proxy prefix is added to the URL and the work, if BAU has access, will be accessible.

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Once pressed, you will be asked for your credentials.

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After you have entered your credentials, you will have access to the full text if it is licensed by BAU. In this example, you will notice that the orange Get Access button in the first screenshot has now changed to a green PDF | EPUB button.

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Installing the Bookmarklet

Installing the EZProxy bookmarklet varies depending on browser. In general, add the EZProxy link to an always visible Bookmarks or Favorites Toolbar, usually by dragging it into the toolbar. Below are specific instructions for some of the more common browsers. 

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javascript:void(location.href=%22http://proxy.bau.edu.tr:2048/login?url=%22+location.href)

 Chrome chrombw.png

javascript:void(location.href=%22http://proxy.bau.edu.tr:2048/login?url=%22+location.href)

Mobile devices

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javascript:void(location.href=%22http://proxy.bau.edu.tr:2048/login?url=%22+location.href)

Android devices  Android_symbol_green_RGB.png

Partnership: Barbaros Library Journals and Databases (BAU)

Accessing BAU Resources

Through a partnership with Bahçeşehir University (BAU),  BI students and faculty members have access to dozens of research databases, containing millions of items.

To access these materials, BI students must use their UMIS credentials for authentication. Please note that faculty members must use their network / WLAN credentials.

For questions related to usernames and/or passwords, please contact IT.

UMIS usernames are usually in the format: firstname.surname

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If you are a staff member and don't have UMIS credentials, you can use your network / WLAN credentials.

Using local / regional libraries

Kooperativer Bibliotheksverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV)

The KOBV provides a portal to search most academic libraries in Berlin and Brandenburg, including BI, at the same time. Click below to search their catalog.

KOBV Catalog

Accessing local / regional libraries

Freie Universität (FU)

Those officially registered in Berlin or in Brandenburg can obtain user cards at no charge on presentation of identification (Personalausweis; or passport in combination with official proof of residence (Meldebescheinigung)). More information can be found on their website.

FU Catalog
FU Research Databases

Humboldt Universität (HU)

Click to view Reading Room

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Any resident of the Germany who is at least 16 years of age may register to use the libraries of Humboldt University free of charge. For more information see, click here.

HU Catalog
HU Research Databases

Kunstbibliothek – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Library cards are issued during opening hours at the entrance control or at the bibliographic information desk in the reading room.

After presenting an official form of identification (identity card or passport, but not a driver’s licence or student ID) the user receives a library card permitting them to use the library.

For more information, see the website of the Kunstbibliothek.

Kunstbibliothek Catalog

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (StaBi)

Click to view Reading Room

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When you register for the first time you can do it either online or in person at one of our registration counters in either Haus Potsdamer Straße (Leihstelle) or Haus Unter den Linden (Bücherausgabe). If you register online, you will receive a preliminary library card number with which you can already use our electronic resources.

Please observe: when you receive a library card number after an online registration, you can order items only during the first seven days.

When you visit the library for the first time, please register for a regular library card in order to also be able to use the library‘s WiFi.

The StabiOnline service is not renewable. If you do not have a regular library card issued within six weeks, your authorisation to use electronic resources will also expire.

Registration is free of charge.

StaBi Catalog
StaBi Research Databases

Technische Universität Berlin (TU)

Students can register online to use the libraries of the TU. There is currently no registration fee. Upon registration students can borrow books and take advantage of electronic resources. Click here for more information.

TU Catalog
TU Research Databases

Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK)

A Technische Universität library card (see above) is valid at the libraries of the UdK Berlin.

UdK Catalog
UdK Research Databases

Open Access (OA) Journals & Articles

What is Open Access?

Open Access (OA) refers to the free, immediate, online availability of research outputs such as journal articles or books, combined with the rights to use these outputs fully in the digital environment. Open access journals are scholarly publications whose articles are available and reusable worldwide free of charge and without restrictions immediately upon publication.

Unlike traditional subscription-based journals, OA content is open to all readers with no access fees. Most open access journals publish articles under Creative Commons licenses, allowing for broader reuse and distribution while maintaining proper attribution.

Key Benefits of Open Access:

Tools and Resources

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is the premier resource for discovering quality open access journals. Launched in 2003, DOAJ now contains over 21,000 journals covering all areas of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, arts, and humanities.

Key Features:

Other Useful Tools:

Open Access Journal Highlights

Architecture & Design

AGATHÓN - International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design

URL: https://www.agathon.it
ISSN: 2532-683X (online), 2464-9309 (print)

AGATHÓN is an open access journal indexed by SCOPUS and SCIMAGO, covering Urban Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Art, and Design. The journal publishes original research in English and Italian, following a double-blind peer review process.

Focus Areas: Urban planning, architectural design, engineering applications, product and visual design

Architectural Science Review

Availability: Check DOAJ for current open access status Focus: Building performance, environmental design, sustainable architecture

Business & Management

Data Science

Data

This journal focuses on enhancing data transparency and reusability in science. It publishes research on data collection methods, analysis techniques, and scientific dataset descriptions.

Key Features:

Focus Areas: Data methodology, dataset documentation, data science applications

Tips for Authors and Researchers

Finding Quality OA Journals:

  1. Use DOAJ as your primary search tool for legitimate OA journals
  2. Check indexing status in major databases (Scopus, Web of Science)
  3. Verify peer review processes and editorial board credentials
  4. Review licensing terms to understand reuse rights

Funding Considerations:

Quality Indicators: