Tarleton State University Libraries Unit 3 MAGAZINES: PURPOSE & USES   Magazines are collections of articles and images about diverse topics of popular interest and current events. Usually these articles are written by journalists or scholars and are geared toward the average adult. Magazines may cover very "serious" material, but usually do not offer consistently scholarly information. Magazines, like journals and newspapers, are called "periodicals" because they are published at regular intervals throughout the year. Print magazines can be found in libraries, bookstores, newsstands, and general merchandise stores (grocery, retail, etc.). Electronic magazines, called e-zines, can be found on the Internet and sometimes in a library's electronic collections. More information about different types of periodicals and explanations about locating periodical articles is provided in Unit 6. The following list shows some reasons to use magazines as research sources: •  to find information or opinions about popular culture, •  to locate up-to-date information about current events, •  to read editorials and commentaries of popular interest, and •  to find articles by and for people who are not necessarily specialists.     Journals: Purpose & Uses Newspapers: Purpose & Uses   Library Orientation Site Index Updated 7/2004