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Quick answer: Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) is a bibliographic research database from EBSCO. It covers the literature of librarianship, classification, cataloging, bibliometrics, online information retrieval and information management, with coverage reaching back to the mid-1960s. Most researchers reach it through a library that provides access on the EBSCO platform.
What It Is
LISTA is an EBSCO database for the literature of library science and information science. It indexes journals, along with books, research reports and conference proceedings, so that researchers can find scholarship on how information is organized, retrieved and managed. Related names for the same resource include Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts and EBSCO LISTA.
Who Runs It and What It Covers
LISTA is produced by EBSCO and delivered on the EBSCO research platform. A university library listing (San Francisco State University) describes the content as follows.
- Journals: more than 560 core journals, nearly 50 priority journals and nearly 125 selective journals.
- Other material: books, research reports and proceedings.
- Time span: coverage extends back as far as the mid-1960s.
- Subjects: librarianship, classification, cataloging, bibliometrics, online information retrieval, information management and more.
Journal counts change as the database is updated, so check your own library’s listing for the current figure.
How to Search or Use It
LISTA is reached through an institution’s database list, where it links to the EBSCO platform; the off-campus route depends on your library’s own access guide. Once inside, the platform’s own help pages describe its search options, so use those for the current interface rather than relying on a fixed set of menu steps. If you keep a reference library, the guide on getting citations into Zotero explains the general export workflow, and Crossref is the usual place to resolve a DOI you find in a record.
Strengths and Limits
Strengths
- Focused subject scope: the database is built around library and information science topics, which keeps results close to the field.
- Historical depth: coverage back to the mid-1960s supports work on how the field developed.
Limits
- Access through libraries: availability and terms are set by your library, so you may need to sign in with an institutional or library-card account.
- Field boundaries: topics that sit mainly in education are better searched alongside the ERIC database.
Alternatives
| Database | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| LISTA | Library and information science literature, covered above. |
| Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) | A separate abstracting database for the same field; check whether your library subscribes. |
| ERIC | Education literature, including topics that overlap with school and academic libraries. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between LISTA and LISA?
They are two separate databases serving the same field. LISTA is produced by EBSCO; LISA is Library and Information Science Abstracts, a distinct title.
How far back does LISTA coverage extend?
A university library listing states that coverage extends back as far as the mid-1960s.
What subjects does LISTA cover?
Librarianship, classification, cataloging, bibliometrics, online information retrieval and information management, among others.
How do I get access?
Look for LISTA in your library’s A-Z database list; it links through to the EBSCO platform. Your library sets the access terms.
Sources
- San Francisco State University Library, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, https://library.sfsu.edu/library-information-science-technology-abstracts (checked 2026-11-07).
