Should I pay for Journal Articles?
Like all academic libraries, the University of Iowa Libraries buys access to online journals, research databases and other collections of online articles (and other content). Often, the subscriptions we pay are based on the number of students who will have access and we need to ensure that only our students/staff/faculty have access to the articles. The providers of online articles know that any computer coming from our range of internet (IP) addresses is on the UIowa campus and should have access. Off-campus, though, isn’t so easy.
All our links to something we pay for go through a proxy server – sort of a gate-keeper that asks your HawkID and password and then lets anyone who should have access through to the resource. That only works if you start somewhere on the University of Iowa Libraries websites (http://www.lib.uiowa.edu) though. If you google the journal article and find it on a publisher website, for example, or follow a link to an article from someone else’s website, no one will know you’re part of the UIowa and they’ll probably want some money up front.
Here are some strategies to help.
- Start your research at the library – http://www.lib.uiowa.edu.
- Configure Google Scholar’s Library Links to use the University of Iowa – http://scholar.google.com/scholar_preferences or just log into Google Scholar through us.
- Use the Article Locator to find out if we have articles someone else is linking to.
Share your secrets for getting library materials in the comments.
Dan the Librarian
Off-campus, though, isn’t so easy?
Comment by Utility trailers — March 2, 2009 @ 2:31 am
No, I don’t think so. There has to be free access!
Comment by Rakesh Patel — March 17, 2009 @ 7:01 am
I have something to share
First Stop: Search FRANCIS, the Williams College Libraries catalog.
* For title searches, omit the beginning “The,” “A,” or “An” in the title.
* For author searches, remember to enter the last name followed by the first name.
* For articles, make sure to search for the journal title, not the article title or author. Match the year you need with the “Library has” statement in the full record for the journal or dates of coverage in the “Connect to” box for online journals. View examples of screens
Second Stop:
* If you need a book, click the Repeat Search in NExpress button within FRANCIS.
* If you need a journal article, use Citation Linker to request the article through Williams ILL.
Third Stop: Check the BLC Virtual Catalog (for books only).
Final Stop: Use ILLiad (interlibrary loan outside NExpress and BLC libraries).
All the best.
Comment by pakka — May 20, 2009 @ 6:50 am
Thanks for the comment, Pakka. While I like the steps you take, they will really only work at Williams College (where I assume you study.) For the rest of us, keep in mind that the libraries at your colleges and universities have similar resources and are probably connected to similar inter-library loan networks. Find out what steps will work for you at your school. If you are a University of Iowa distant student, of course, you can talk to me.
Dan the Librarian
Comment by Daniel — May 20, 2009 @ 8:47 am
OK Daniel. Ya I am studying there. I was talking about the online resources available for the students.
Comment by pakka — May 20, 2009 @ 10:50 pm
When it come’s to writing papers though, I need all the help I can get
Comment by kathy.kishy — June 4, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Cornell U. just made all of their journals free, Iowa should do the same. We already pay enough for tuition, now pay to use the libraries resources?
Comment by Sean — June 20, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Thanks for the comment, Sean, but I think you may be referring to Cornell U’s recent decision to allow people to use copies that Cornell U’s Library made of public domain items from their collection. More information on that is available here – http://www.library.cornell.edu/node/1333.
College and university libraries buy things like current books and journals, which are not in the public domain, so their students can use them. Just like when you buy a magazine at a news stand, these are not free. So, check your library first before you buy that article you found online.
Dan
Comment by Daniel — June 22, 2009 @ 10:24 am
I believe there must be free access.
Sam Tylor
Comment by Sam Tylor — August 28, 2009 @ 1:54 pm