Skip to Main Content
Oklahoma City Community College Keith Leftwich Memorial Library

Using JSTOR

Explains how to sign up and use the free version of JSTOR.

Using JSTOR

JSTOR is a scholarly database, comprised of peer-reviewed journals, books, and primary sources.  Most content is full-text and may be accessed immediately.  Accessing JSTOR through the OCCC Library's website ensures you will have access to a wide range of sources.

Searching

While JSTOR offers access to articles like other Library article databases, due to its size, users should adjust their search methods to efficiently find appropriate results.

  • Advanced Search is preferred.
  • Use concise keywords.
  • Narrow your results by Item Type (at the bottom of the Advanced Search screen.)  If you are searching for journal articles, check the Articles box.
  • Limit your search results to articles related to a specific discipline, listed under Journal Filter (on the Advanced Search screen.)  For instance, if you are searching for articles on impeachment proceedings against U.S. presidents, restricting your results to journals in the History and Political Science categories will make your results more relevant.  
  • Accept the default access type of Content I can access to restrict results to items you may read immediately. You may change this to Everything but access will not be available to all materials (but may be requested via Interlibrary Loan.)

Viewing your search Results.

Items that have the red Download button may be downloaded immediately.  To only view within your browser, click on the item's title instead.

Other JSTOR features

To save an item, you will need to create a JSTOR account by selecting Register in the top right corner.  You do NOT have to use your student email account.  It is recommended that you use an email account you will have continuous access to.