Skip to Main Content

Library Tutorials

Step by step instructions to help students learn how to use library resources and services effectively

How to Find Full Text Journal Articles

There are a variety of ways to find full text journal articles through the Medical Library. This page provides information about two options to find full text: 

  1. Finding full text journal articles through OneSearch
  2. Finding full text journal articles using the link resolver (Find Full Text @ BU)

You can learn more about these methods by scrolling down, or by watching the video below (5 minutes 22 seconds).

Additionally, this page provides information about related issues:

  1. Full text browser extensions
  2. PDF vs. HTML full text
  3. Using interlibrary loan

Finding Full Text Journal Articles Through the Library

Finding Full Text Through OneSearch

Direct Access to Full Text Journal Articles in OneSearch

If you are looking for a specific article that you already have the citation for, search OneSearch for the article. You can type in the title and typically find it that way. In some cases you may need to use the filters and/or advanced search options to find the article by entering other information, such as publication year or author information. 

When searching for an article in OneSearch, if the library has electronic access to the article, you can often access it from the results page. Simply click on "Read Article" or "Download PDF" (in blue) to access.

Screenshot of a search in OneSearch

Alternatively, if you click on an article title, or the green "Full text available," you will be provided with link(s) to all resources that provide access to your desired article, including various databases and publisher sites. In some cases, instead of "Full text available" you may see a green "Online access" link. 

Online access link

 

 

Full Text via the Link Resolver

If you do not have a specific article that you are looking for via citation, you will want to search by keywords in OneSearch or a library database. Within databases, you will sometimes find direct links to the article as PDFs or in HTML format. But other times, you may see a blue box with the text: "Find Full Text @ BU."

What does the blue "Find Full Text @ BU" image mean?

Check Bunch Library for Full Text
This indicates that full text may be available in another library database. Bunch Library is the main library on Belmont University's campus. 

Clicking on that image will either:

  1. Connect you directly to the article's full text if possible.
  2. Connect you to the article's result page in OneSearch, where you can access the article, or if not available, connect to interlibrary loan, where you can request the article for free.

Interlibrary Loan

No full-text access for an article you need? Don't pay for it, but use interlibrary loan (ILL)! 

ILL is a free service providing full-text articles and book loans for resources that are not available from Belmont. Click on the link below for more information about this service.