If you are a current student and don’t have individual access to a source that requires a paid subscription, you may have access through your college’s or university’s library. Try searching your school’s library guides, librarian-curated content management systems designed to aggregate and share information and resources. You may be surprised to discover that you have access to databases such as JSTOR, Project Muse, and the MLA International Bibliography; search tools such as Google Scholar; dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary; and much more.

Nonstudents may have free access to certain digital resources through their local public library. Just like school libraries, public libraries often provide online guides that list the resources available to cardholders. These resources might include databases, archives, and periodicals such as newspapers and magazines, among others.

If you’re unsure whether your library provides access to a particular source, ask a librarian. If you aren’t able to access a source online, try searching the library catalog for a print edition.