MLA Style Guide Updated

Our MLA guide page for CBC Library Databases has been updated to reflect the 7th edition MLA Handbook (2009). For those required to use the 6th edition style we have retained the old page. If you compare them you will notice a number of important differences:

• All citations include the medium of publication.
  • Print publication citations end with the word 'Print.'
  • Online publication citations end with 'Web.' followed by the date of access.
  
  
• Citations no longer include the name of the library that subscribes to the database.
  
• When citing online publications the URL should be included "only when the reader probably cannot locate the source without it or when your instructor requires it" (MLA 7th, 5.6).
  

The citation generation features of our databases vary greatly in the quality and style of MLA citations they are producing. Some have not adopted MLA 7th edition at all, others have made odd changes. We recommend that you follow the guidance of your instructor, the Writing Center, the MLA Handbook and this guide page (in that order), and use automatic citation generators with caution.