How to locate the full-text of articles

Many of the UW Libraries article databases do not have a direct link to the full-text of the article. You still may be able to get the full-text but it will take a couple more steps. Sometimes you can use the "Check UW holdings" button in the database to navigate to the link to the full-text. Other times you will need to search the library catalog or electronic journals. The steps below will help you locate the full-text.

Step 1: Start with an article citation

Example: "Constructing women's status: Policy discourses of university women's commission reports"; Elizabeth J Allan ; Harvard Educational Review, Cambridge; Spring 2003; Vol. 73 (1); 44-74.

Note the title of the journal, in this case it is Harvard Educational Review. You can search the UW Libraries Catalog to see if the journal is carried by UW.

Step 2: Go to the UW Libraries Catalog

Searching the UW Libraries Catalog (http://catalog.lib.washington.edu/search~/)

  1. In the "By" field choose Title.
  2. In the "For" field type or paste in the title of the journal
    (NOT the title of the article).
  3. In the "In" field choose Journals.

 

Interpret the options for locating the article

If the UW Libraries has the journal, it may be available either online, in print or in microform.

"Connect to this title online" or "Full Text available." means an article may be available electronically. Click on the link and navigate to the article you need. You may need to refer back to the citation for volume, issue or page number. If you are off-campus, you will first need to login to the "Off-campus access" with your UWNetid and password.

(in the upper right corner of the window). It will turn green when you are logged in.

"Tacoma Microforms" means an article is available on microfilm or microfiche at the UWT Library. You can find it in the Microforms section. It is in the drawers by TAC number. In this example it is TAC-147.

"Tacoma Periodicals" means an article is available in print at the UWT Library. Write down the call number (in this example: L11 .H374) to locate the journal in the Periodicals stacks.

If the location does not say "Tacoma" it is either in Seattle or Bothell.

Remember to check the dates both in the citation and in the library catalog entry to determine which location has the journal year you need! In the example here, the Full-Text available online is from 02/01/1988 to the present.

Step 3: Searching Electronic Journals

If you can not find the journal in the catalog, search Electronic Journals.

(Note to Nursing Students: Also try searching Healthlinks ejournals)

  1. Enter the title of the journal in the search box. Search.

  2. On the results screen, click on the journal title to connect to the journal.

What to do when an article is NOT available in Tacoma or online

When the journal you are looking for is only available in Seattle in print (hard copy) form or micoform, you can still get an electronic copy of an article. You can request it through Interlibrary Loan. On the UW Tacoma Library home page the link is Book & Article delivery (on the UW Libraries page the link is Interlibrary Loan.) It generally takes 3-4 business days to receive your article.

To request a photocopy or electronic copy of the article:

  1. On the Interlibrary Loan page click "Current UW and Cascadia Students, Faculty, & Staff"
  2. Logon with your UW NetID and password.
  3. If you have not created an Interlibrary Loan account you will need to do so.
  4. Fill out an order form under "Request a Photocopy".
  5. Articles will either be delivered electronically to your Interlibrary Loan account, or in paper at the Circulation Desk, according to your personal preference.
  6. Interlibrary Loan is free of charge if you are ordering articles for your UWT coursework or assignments.
  7. You will receive an email from Interlibrary Loan to let you know your article is available.
  8. On the Interlibrary Loan page, click on the gray button "View/Download Electronically Received Articles."
  9. You will see a list of articles you ordered. Under "Transaction#" click on the word "View." The article will open as a pdf file.

What to do when an article is NOT available through the UW Libraries

To order the article from a journal not owned by the UW Libraries, follow the same procedures listed above for requesting articles from Interlibrary Loan.

It may take longer than 3-4 business days to locate articles in journals the UW Libraries does not have. Sometimes it can take two weeks.

Additional Help

Contact the Reference Desk at: (253) 692-4442, or tacref@u.washington.edu