Introduction

Internet and electronic information, with no print equivalents, present new challenges to scholars. Increasingly information is being published only in electronic formats, and questions about how to cite these sources in academic papers have become frequent at library reference desks.

Most style authorities classify electronic sources into two major types: web resources, online sources and other electronic sources.

Web and Online sources may include:

• World Wide Web sites
• FTP sites
• Synchronous Communications sites (MOOs, MUDs, Chats)
• Listservs
• Newsgroups
• E-Mail
• Databases

Other electronic sources may include:

• CD-ROMs
• diskettes
• magnetic tapes
• other portable computer databases

As more information becomes available on the Internet and in electronic form, some standardization of citation formats is necessary in order to provide accurate references to authorship and to facilitate access to the sources. The style authorities have various approaches to the citation of electronic sources and, in general, there is little agreement among them. However, there are two principles emerging to which all authorities appear to adhere: 1) provide as much information as possible concerning the authorship and the availability of the sources, and 2) if there is no specific guideline for a particular electronic source, draw an analogy to a relevant print source guideline.

The ISO (International Standards Organization) standard appears to be the most complete in citation elements.  DIS 690-2 recommends that the following citation elements be included in bibliographic references to electronic documents:

• Primary responsibility
• Title
• Type of medium (e.g. online; CD-ROM)
• Subordinate responsibility
• Edition
• Issue designation (for serials)
• Place of publication
• Publisher
• Date of publication
• Date of update/revision
• Date of citation
• Series
• Notes (physical description; accompanying material; system requirements; frequency of publication; language; other notes)
• Availability and access (e.g. URL)
• Other availability information
• Standard number (e.g. ISBN, ISSN)

For further information, contact:
ISO/TC 46/SC 9 Secretariat
National Library of Canada
Internet: iso.tc46.sc9@nlc-bnc.ca

The 5th edition of APA (2001, p.238) recommends that to cite sources from aggregated online databases, cite the work, add a retrieval statement with date and proper name of the database.  For other web sources, include a URL that points to the entry page of the database.

For the purpose of student papers, to provide proper citation of resources obtained from databases mounted on the University of Alberta Library server, it is recommended that an availability statement be added.

Citation Examples

A Journal Article retrieved from a database

Schrader, A. (1999). Internet censorship: Issues for teacher-librarian. Teacher
     Librarian, 26 (5). Retrieved November 1, 2001, from Academic Search
     Premier database.

or if you have three to five authors:

Henri, J., Hay, L., & Oberg, D. (2002). An international study on principal
     influence and information services in schools: Synergy in theme and
     methods. School Libraries Worldwide, 8(1), 49. Retrieved
     September 28, 2004, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

(Note: APA (p.227) indicates that in electronic sources, page numbers are often not relevant.)

An Online Journal Article (Exact duplicate of print journal article version, not retrieved from an aggregated database.)

Thorpe, K. (2004). Protecting the uninsured [Electronic version]. New
     England Journal of Medicine, 351(15), 1479-1481.

A Magazine Article

Close, J. (1998, March/April). Where are you countess lovelace? Declining female
     presence in computer studies contradicts general trends. Teach Magazine.
     Retrieved February 7, 2000, from CBCA Fulltext Education database.

An Abstract

Andison, C. A. (1998). Learning disabilities and peer victimization in schools.
     Abstract retrieved February 8, 2000, from UMI ProQuest Digital
     Dissertation database (AAT MQ37470).  

An Internet Journal Article with No Print Equivalent

Foster, S. K., Paulk, A., & Dastoor, B. R. (1999). Can we really teach test-taking
     skills?  New Horizons in Adult Education, 13 (1). Retrieved  February 7,
     2000, from http://www.nova.edu/~aed/newhorizons.html

An ERIC document

Mackey, M. (1999, November). The changing powers of readers in a time of
     new technology. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the
     International Association of School Librarianship (IASL), Birmingham, Al.
     (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 437067 ). Retrieved
     October 26, 2004, from ERIC database.

An Online Full-text Dissertation
 
Branch, J. L. (2000). Information-seeking processes of junior high students:
     A case study of CD-ROM encyclopedia use  (Doctoral dissertation, 
     University of Alberta, 2000). ProQuest Digital Dissertations (AAT NQ59566)

An E-Book

Polette, N. J. (2000). Gifted books, gifted readers: Literature activities to excite
     young minds. Englewood, Co: Libraries Unlimited. Retrieved October 26, 2004,
     from netLibrary database.

A Newspaper Article

Avery, B. (2000, February 9). Oil Prices likely to remain high: Non-OPEC suppliers
      unable to challenge cartel. The EdmontonJournal. Retrieved February 9, 2000,
      from http://www.edmontonjournal.com/

A Web Document

American Psychological Association. (2001). Electronic references. Retrieved
     November 1, 2001, from http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html 

A Web Site

No reference entry is needed; give the URL of the site in text. For example,

2Learn is a very useful Web site for teachers  http://www.2Learn.ca/mapset/mapset.html

E-Mail 

Cite e-mail communication in text only. No reference entry is needed. For example,

J. Tong (personal communication, February 9, 2000)

Illustrations

To provide full citation of illustrations, include a note at the bottom of the reprinted work (or in the caption) giving credit to the original author and to the copyright holder. Although APA does not include specific guidelines regarding images from websites, here is a suggestion drawn from an analogy to printed work.

For example, to provide full bibliographic citation to a copyrighted photograph obtained from the Washington State University website, include a note at the bottom of the photograph.

Note. From Washington State University, Pullman, University Recreation. (2004). Men's Ice Hockey [Photograph]. Available from University Recreation website, http://urec.wsu.edu/photos/ Copyright 2002 by Board of Regents, Washington State University. Reprinted with permission.

 References

American Psychological Association. (2001). Electronic references.
    Retrieved November 1, 2001, from http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html

Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.).
     (2001).  Washington D.C.: APA.

Citation of Electronic Resources Based on Chicago Manual of Style (for Humanities)

Based on the principles outlined in the Chicago Manual¹ and Turabian², the following are sample references for citation of electronic sources. The Chicago style favored by writers in literature, history, and the arts, is a system known as "Notes and bibliography." This guide is meant for University of Alberta students doing their term paper assignments, and is not meant to be definitive and will be revised periodically.

Citation Examples

The Chicago Manual requires that page references be included in the citation. The fact that on-line journal articles are seldom marked with page number makes it difficult to include page information. Give the total number of pages, paragraphs or lengths in words if they are provided. It is also acceptable to omit the page reference if the reference is to the article as a whole. In general, cite only what is available.

An On-line Journal Article

Footnote:

     1. Alvin Schrader, "Internet Censorship: Issues for Teacher-Librarian," Teacher Librarian 26, no.5 (1999): par. 18. http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=63 (accessed November 24, 1999).

Bibliography:

Schrader, Alvin. "Internet Censorship: Issues for Teacher-Librarian."
     Teacher Librarian 26, no.5 (1999): 5 pp. http://www.library.ualberta.ca/
     databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=63 (accessed November 24 1999)

A Magazine Article

Footnote:

    2. John Schofield, "Fighting for French: a New Report Takes Aim at Barriers to Bilingualism for Canadian Students," Maclean's, August 28, 2000, 5, http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=135

Bibliography:

Schofield, John. "Fighting for French: a New Report Takes Aim at Barriers  
     to Bilingualism for Canadian Students." Maclean's, August 28, 2000.
     http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=135
     (accessed January 19, 2001).

An Unpublished Paper

Footnote:

    3. Nawang Phuntsog, "Renewal of Tibetan School; Curriculum in Exile: A Tibetan-Centric Approach," (paper, 1994), 5, ED 383617, http://www.edrs.com/Webstore/Default.cfm, (accessed January 21, 2001).

Bibliography:

Phuntsog, Nawang. "Renewal of Tibetan School; Curriculum in Exile: A
     Tibetan-Centric Approach." Paper, 1994. ED 383617,
     http://www.edrs.com/Webstore/Default.cfm, (accessed January 21, 2001).

An Abstract

Footnote:
    4. Naomi Sankar-DeLeeuw, "Gifted Young Children: An In-depth Investigation" (Ph.D. diss., University of Alberta, 1999), abstract in ProQuest Digital Dissertations, AATNQ46914, http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=168, (accessed January 21, 2001).

Bibliography:

Sankar-DeLeeuw, Naomi. "Gifted Young Children: An In-depth
     Investigation." Ph.D. diss., University of Alberta, 1999. Abstract in
     ProQuest Digital Dissertations, AATNQ46914, 
     http://www.library.ualberta.ca/databases/databaseinfo/index.cfm?ID=168,
     (accessed January 21, 2001).

A Newspaper Article

It is not necessary to include news articles from daily papers in a bibliography.

    5. Bryant Avery, "Oil Prices Likely to Remain High," The Edmonton Journal, Wednesday, 9 February 2000, Business section, http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ (accessed February 9, 2000).

An Encyclopaedia Article

It is not necessary to list well known reference books in bibliographies, cite the item preceded by s.v. (sub verbo, "under the word")

    6. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. "Ice hockey", http://www.britannica.com/ (accessed  January 21, 2001).

A Web Site

    7. University of Chicago Press, University of Chicago Press Online, http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ (accessed January 21, 2001).

A Web Document

   8. International Olympic Committee, "IOC code of ethics," The Official Website of the Olympic Movement, http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/commissions/ethics/index_uk.asp, (accessed  March 14, 2002).

E-Mail

Reference to e-mail may be included in a note.

    9. Josie Tong, e-mail message to author, January 19, 2001.

References:

     1. University of Chicago Press, The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993).
     2. Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Chicago: University Chicago Press, 1996).

Uniform requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals

Also known as Vancouver style. Based on an ANSI standard style adapted by the National Library of Medicine for its databases.

• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication
  http://www.icmje .org/
  
• U.S. National Library of Medicine:  International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals -- Sample References
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html
  See examples 35-41 for electronic material citation.

Citing Cochrane Reviews

a. Vancouver/ICJME Style. There appears to be no consistency in formatting of Cochrane Reviews among the various publications that use Vancouver style, nor does the official Vancouver/ICJME reference example page at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html include any Cochrane Reviews.  We suggest you cite Cochrane Reviews in the following format:

McCarney RW, Linde K, Lasserson TJ. Homeopathy for chronic asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000353. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000353.pub2.

This will comply with the Vancouver practice of abbreviating the source title, but still stick closely to the format recommended by the Cochrane Library. If you do not have the ‘CD’ number or the DOI for your review, look it up by author and/or title in the Cochrane Library.

The above example is a suggestion only. You might wish to confirm with your instructor whether he/she will accept our suggested format. If not, ask him/her to suggest how you should format the reference. If you are submitting an article for publication, check with the journal editor to determine the desired format for Cochrane reviews.

b. APA Style.  There appears to be no consistency in formatting of Cochrane Reviews among the various publications that use APA style, nor does the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed. provide any examples of citing a Cochrane Review.  We suggest you cite Cochrane Reviews in the following format:

McCarney, R.W., Linde, K., & Lasserson, T.J. (2004). Homeopathy for chronic asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1), CD000353.

The above examples are suggestions only. You might wish to confirm with your instructor whether he/she will accept our suggested format. If not, ask him/her to suggest how you should format the reference. If you are submitting an article for publication, check with the journal editor to determine the desired format for Cochrane reviews.  

______________________________

Adapted from: University of Alberta Libraries. 2006