Finding Articles F.A.Q.

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There are a variety of different access points for finding articles at the Pumerantz Library. The best place to get started depends on where you are in the research process.

To Find Articles on a Specific Topic

If you are starting your research, the library offers a variety of databases to assist you in finding articles on specific topics. Our Electonic Resources Page has many options to help you find the information you are looking for.

If you are looking for a general place to get started try PubMed. PubMed contains references to journal articles in the life sciences with a concentration on biomedicine.

There are two options available within PubMed that will allow you to access full-text articles, if available.

• One method is PubMed LinkOut. Western University's full-text icon will display on abstracts that the library has electronic access to. Western University's print collection icon will display on abstracts that the library has print availability to. For more information on using the PubMed LinkOut features, please see our LinkOut page.
• The second method is the WU Full-Text Locator.
  WU Full-text Locator provides a link from a database citation to the full-text of the article (if available) within a separate database. Click on the WU Full-text Locator icon to check availability of the article. If the article is not available electronically in any of our subscription databases, the Locator provides links to our catalog to search for print issues, a link to our Interlibrary Loan form if print or electronic versions are not available, and a link to our Ask a Librarian form if you have any questions regarding access.
  

  The databases that have the WU Full-text Locator icon available are:

  • Academic Search Elite
  • Alt-Health Watch
  • Biological and Agricultural Index Plus
  • Business Source Elite
  • CINAHL
  • EMBASE
  • Health Source Consumer Edition
  • Health Source Nursing Academic Edition
  • Index Veterinarius
  • MDConsult
  • PubMed (Tutorial)
  • ScienceDirect
  • Web of Science

For more in-depth subject searching use the Subject Directories to select additional databases. Subject directories focus on one topic or subject and point you to databases, journals, books, and websites that may be helpful in your research.

To Find a Specific Article

If you already know the specific article you are looking for and would like to find out if the Pumerantz Library has full-text access either electronically or in print, use the Pumerantz Library Citation Linker. Enter in the citation information and click "Look Up". You will be directed to the WU Full-Text locator page. From here you can check for electronic availability. If the article is not available electronically in any of our subscription databases, the Locator provides links to our catalog to search for print issues, a link to our Request an Article form if print or electronic versions are not available, and a link to our Ask a Librarian form if you have any questions regarding access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there multiple links to full-text?

Sometimes full-text access to a journal is available in multiple databases. This can happen because we have access through one of our subscription databases, but we also have access that came free with our print subscription. You can choose which provider you want access from.

Sometimes the Locator indicates full-text is available but, when I click on the article link I cannot access the full-text. Why?

There are multiple reasons why a full-text link may not work properly. Some reasons are:

1. The citation is made available in a database before the publisher makes the full-text available online.
2. The publisher's website is temporarily down or having technical difficulties.
3. A publisher can remove or make the full-text article no longer available.
4. Citation information can be incorrect and the Locator cannot provide the appropriate link.

If you have any questions or would like to report a problem with a link, please use the Ask a Librarian form.

Why can I not always link directly to the full-text article and instead end up at the journal homepage or table of contents?

The e-journal publisher determines whether or not we can link directly to the article. If a link is only available to the journal homepage you will need to navigate through the web page to access full-text.

Why can't I see the Locator icon in ScienceDirect?

In ScienceDirect the Locator icon is available on the Abstract view of the article and not the citation view like our other databases.

If the Locator does not indicate that full-text is available electronically, does that mean the article is not available online?

No. Some databases allow access to certain journal issues electronically on a complementary basis, or the full-text locator has not yet recognized a new subscription. If you have any questions regarding the availability of an article online you can contact the library using the Ask a Librarian form.