About this database: Facts on File databases began as print periodicals. To cite an article from World News Digest, Issues & Controversies, Today's Science or another Facts on File database, you must determine if it appeared in print (Case #1) or was written specifically for the database and was never in print (Case #2). Here are two tests that can help you make the decision - they work with all the databases available from Facts on File:
Test for print: If the Facts on File citation at the bottom of the article shows an italicized title (see red below) between the title of the article and the italicized name of the database (in blue below), then it does come from print, so follow the instructions in Case #1.
Facts on File citation: "Soviets Begin to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan; 1,200 Leave in First Convoy; Other Developments." Facts On File World News Digest: n. pag. World News Digest. Facts On File News Services, 20 May 1988. Web. 31 Dec. 2009. <http://www.2facts.com/article/1988014490>.
Test for original database material: If the Facts on File citation at the bottom of the article shows only the italicized name of the database, then it is original to the database, so follow the instructions in Case #2.
Facts on File citation: "The War in Afghanistan (Research Feature)." World News Digest. Facts On File News Services, Nov. 2007. Web. 31 Dec. 2009. <http://www.2facts.com/article/r00109>.
Case #1: Print information provided
Procedure: While they aren't technically magazines, the original printed source is published weekly and then compiled into binders by the subscribing library like a periodical subscription, therefore choose the "Magazine" citation type, then select:
- Online magazine (e-zine) or printed magazine available from a database or Web site
- Retrieved from an online database
- An article
- Enter the print publication facts
- The name of the print source (e.g. Facts On File World News Digest)
- The day/month/year) of print publication (e.g., Sept. 25, 2009)
Your citation with an optional URL looks like this:
"Soviets Begin to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan; 1,200 Leave in First Convoy; Other Developments." Facts on File World News Digest 20 May 1988: n. pag. World News Digest. Web. 30 Dec. 2009. <http://www.2facts.com/article/1988014490>.
NOTES:
- If you are providing a URL, use the short, permanent "Record URL" at the bottom of the article, not the URL in the browser's address bar.
- The citation example given by Facts on File at the bottom of the article is incorrect. They are applying rules from 5.6.2b even though the source is a print periodical in an online database (MLA 5.6.4).
Case #2: An original article in the database
Procedure: Choose "Online Database" as the citation type, then select:
- Yes, this is original content created for this database (it never appeared in print or another publication medium).
Your citation with an optional URL will look like this:
"The War in Afghanistan." World News Digest. Facts on File News Services, Nov. 2007. Web. 31 Dec. 2009. <http://www.2facts.com/article/r00109>.
NOTES:
- If you are providing a URL, use the short, permanent "Record URL" at the bottom of the article, not the URL in the browser's address bar.
- We are applying MLA 5.6.2b here. The publisher's name, Facts on File News Services, is taken from the bottom of the page next to the copyright sign.
