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JCC Library Handouts: MLA 8 Format For Citing Electronic Library Databases

These are simplified handouts with documentation information for students.

MLA 8 Format For Citing Electronic Library Databases

MLA 8 Format for Citing Electronic Library Databases

Basic Form:

Author’s last name, comma, first name, middle initial, period : Ponder, Jennifer B.

If no author is listed, begin citation with title

Article title, period, in quotes: “The Butterfly Effect: The Impact of Citizenship Education.”
Journal title, italicized, comma: Social Studies Journal,
Date -

  • For a scholarly journal, use vol. ## for volume number, comma, no. ## for issue number, comma, month or season if available, comma, year, comma: vol. 100, no. 3, Fall, 2009,
  • For a popular magazine or newspaper, use date and edition elements that are available for your citation—day month year, comma, edition, comma: 12 Sept. 2009, late ed., 
  • If there is no edition, use day month year, comma: 12 Sept. 2009,
  • If there is no day, use month year, comma: Sept. 2009,

Page numbers:

  • For page range use pp. ##-##, period: pp. 129-135.
  • For one page use p. #, period.: p. 125.
  • If page numbering is not continuous, use pp. and  first page number and plus sign, period: pp. 14+.

Database name, italicized,comma: Omnifile Full Text Select,
DOI (digital object identifier) if available or permanent url ("permalink") if no DOI. Omit http;// or https:// in url, period: doi:10.1353/pmc.2000.0021. or jccweb.sunyjefferson.edu:2055/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=108332619&site=ehost-live.

Put together, citations should look like the following examples, with first line starting at margin and subsequent lines indented. Typing should be double-spaced.

Scholarly journal article from an online library database:

Ponder, Jennifer B. “The Butterfly Effect: The Impact of Citizenship Education.” Social Studies Journal, vol. 100, no. 3, 2009, pp. 129-135. Omnifile Full Text Select, doi:10.1353/pmc.2000.0021.

Popular magazine article from an online library database:

Gibbs, Nancy. “Zero Tolerance, Zero Sense.” Time, 21 Mar. 2011, pp.  62-63. Academic Search Complete, jccweb.sunyjefferson.edu:2055/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=59305669&site=ehost-live.

Newspaper article without an author from an online library database:

“Hollywood Night of Offbeat Choices.” New York Times, 13 Jan. 2009, C1. New York Times (1923-Current file),  jccweb.sunyjefferson.edu:2068/docview/1030554432?accountid=40619.