Citing Online Sources

Citing online sources is similar to citing printed books, journals, or magazines, but requires adding additional information.  This guide will help you format your citations for articles found in online databases, electronic books, and websites.  

Here are key points to remember:

• For articles in databases:  in addition to the standard information (author, article name, journal name, volume and pages), you also need to provide the name of the database, the date you accessed the information, the library that provided access, and the electronic address (or URL) of the database.  You will find the URL for each database in smaller type at the end of its description on the Online Databases page.  

• Spacing, punctuation, and indenting: (5 spaces at the beginning of every line but the first).  

• Capitalization: In any title (article, book, encyclopedia, journal, magazine, 
  etc.) capitalize the major words.

• If no author given, place the title in the author position.  

Here are generic templates, followed by specific examples for articles, encyclopedia entries, e-books, and websites.  

Keep in mind that you may not be able to determine all elements for your electronic source, but the goal in citing is to clearly identify your source so that others may locate it.  You may need to find similar examples and modify them for your particular source.  You can find more examples at James D. Lester's Citing Cyberspace: MLA Citations or consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers available at LB2369.G53 at any branch.  If you need additional help, please ask a librarian.

Journal Article:

Magazine Article: 

Author's last name, first name.  "Article title."  Journal or magazine title.    
         Issue date: pages. Name of database.  Library, city, and state 
         (if the library is a subscriber).  Date accessed. <URL of database's 
         main page>

Uríbarri, Fátima.  "Harry Potter Engancha a 35 Millones de Lectores: 
         Hechizados por la Lectura."  Epoca.  10 Dec. 2000: 70.  Informe.  
         E.P.C.C. Libraries, El Paso, TX.  11 Apr. 2001. 
         <http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb?db=IFME>

Newspaper Article:

Encyclopedia entry:

"Entry name."  Name of Encyclopedia.  Date of Internet publication (if 
          known).  Date of access.  <URL>.

"Emiliano Zapata."  Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia.  1996.  2 Jul. 2001.  
        <http://search.epnet.com/login.asp?profile=fw>

Electronic Book:

Author's last name, first name.  Name of Book. Date of publication. 
         Date of access.  <URL>.  

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Henry Churchyard.  1966. 
         10 Sept. 2000   <http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/pridprej.html>.

Article from Website:

"Title" Name of Website. Date of Internet publication (if known).  Date 
         accessed. <URL>

"Ten Hispanic Educators Win $25,000 Milken National Educator Awards"  
            Hispanic Online.com.  2001. 11 Jul. 2001.
             <http://www.hispaniconline.com/edu&/pages/milken_award.html>

Website:

Author's last name, first name.  Document title (if no title, use the phrase
          Home page).  Institution or agency sponsoring the site (if known). 
          Date of Internet publication (if known).   Date of access <URL>.

McNaron, Toni and Miller, Carol (eds).  Voices from the Gaps: Women 
         Writers of Color.  July 2001.  University of Minnesota.  11 Jul. 2001.  
          <http://voices.cla.umn.edu/index.html> 

Any other questions?

If you have further questions, please ask a librarian at any campus Reference Desk:

Valle Verde Campus (915) 831-2442 
Transmountain Campus (915) 831-5098
Rio Grande Campus (915) 831-4019
Mission del Paso Campus (915) 831-7040
Northwest Campus (915) 831-8840

or consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers available at any branch.