Guide to Locating Gerontology Materials in UNC-CH Libraries

A tutorial from the IOA Information Center

Note: This guide is designed for students at UNC Chapel Hill. Our Guide to Library Research on Aging Topics is also recommended for all students.

Contents:
1. Libraries At UNC-CH
2. Electronic Indexes and Databases
3. E-Journals
4. Library Services, Tutorials, Reference Guides
5. For Distance Students
6 . Aging Subject Headings & Key Terms Used in Databases

1. Libraries At UNC-CH

You'll find aging-related books, journals and more in many different libraries on the UNC-CH campus:

The two main libraries on campus:
- Davis Library (social sciences)
- Health Sciences Library (medical, nursing, health affairs)
  - see their Geriatric Practice Guide
Some of the smaller libraries:
- Carolina Population Center Library (demography, population)
- Odum Institute Data Archive (data sets)
- Institute on Aging Information Center (aging, interdisciplinary)
- AHEC Digital Library
- ... many others in departments across campus

2. Electronic Indexes and Databases

These databases provide a bibliographic index to professional literature. Some provide full-text articles, but some do not. A few are free, but many of them are subscription databases that you have access to as a UNC student. We highlighted aging-related databases below; for the complete list of databases available at UNC-CH, see E-Research Tools on the UNC Libraries website.

AgeLib
AgeLib is the Institute on Aging's digital library of resources. It includes abstracts of selected books, websites, reports, and other items with a focus on grey literature.
http://www.aging.unc.edu/infocenter/agelib/index.html

AgeLine
AgeLine was originally produced by AARP and recently acquired by EBSCO Publishing. It includes abstracts of books and selected articles from over 600 magazines and journals.
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/description.php?resourceID=211335&passthrough=no

CINAHL with Full Text
The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health covers journals from the fields of nursing and allied health. Searching available through NCLIVE.
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/description.php?resourceID=1267&passthrough=no

GPO Access
GPO Access provides free electronic access to information products produced by the U.S. Government.
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition
This resource provides access to the full text of over 400 scholarly journals focusing on many medical disciplines. Searching available through NCLIVE.
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/description.php?resourceID=384&passthrough=no

PubMed/MedLine
PubMed covers the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and public health. PubMed includes all of MedLine. Using the UNC-CH link below will allow you to link to the full text if in an electronic journal to which UNC subscribes.
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/eid/description.php?resourceID=222&passthrough=no

3. E-Journals

E-Journals are defined as journals that are available online in their entirety. Generally, to access e-journals you or your institution must have a subscription. Below are some key e-journals related to aging that are available at UNCCH.

NOTE: For a general list of all gerontology journals and where to find them, try the IOA's Gerontology Journals Finder.

Age and ageing
http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/

Ageing and society
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=ASO

Generations
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/ejournal/titlematch.php?resourceID=104526

The Gerontologist
http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/

Journal of aging and health
http://jah.sagepub.com/

Journal of aging and identity
http://www.springerlink.com/content/104886/

Journal of aging studies
http://eresources.lib.unc.edu/ejournal/titlematch.php?resourceID=12624

Journals of gerontology
Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/
Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/

4. Library Services

Librarians can help you build a search strategy and direct you to resources. Use these links to contact librarians at UNCCH:

Teach yourself using these online tutorials:

Some handy reference guides:

5. For Distance Students

The Institute on Aging and the University Libraries collaborated on a tutorial specifically for students doing aging research from a distance. It covers important research concepts and the provided by the main campus libraries (Davis and HSL).

Aging Research from a Distance

6. Subject Headings & Key Terms

Subject headings are important when searching databases and indexes -- you need to be sure that you are using the same terms that are in the database. This list of aging-related key terms will get you started.

AARP AgeLine Thesaurus of Subject Headings
(used in the AgeLine database, and also in the IOA's AgeLib database)

Older Adults
Aging
Caregivers
Geriatrics
Grandparents
Health Promotion
Long Term Care
Retirement
For more terms please use the full Thesaurus of Aging Terminology

Library of Congress Subject Headings
(used in Davis Library)

Aging
Aged
Geriatrics
Gerontology
Longevity
Nursing Homes
Older people

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
(used in Health Sciences Library and in PubMed/MedLine)

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging (refers to the physiological processes)
Longevity
Frail Elderly
Geriatrics
Health Services for the Aged
Homes for the Aged
Housing for the Elderly
Nursing Homes

GAO (Government Accounting Office)

Aid for the Elderly
Elder care
Elderly persons
Extended care facilities
Food Programs for the elderly
Health care facilities
Housing for the elderly
Long term care
Skilled nursing facilities

Acronyms used in Aging

Acronyms in Aging: Organizations, Agencies, Programs, and Laws (2004)