Library research tools search hundreds of thousands of articles, books, and other sources. Some of these sources are linked directly from the search you are in; some exist in a different online collection, which may or may not be linked; and some we will have to request from another library in order for you to read the entire source.
Think of library databases like streaming platforms: you can watch the first twenty seasons of Law & Order on Hulu, but the newer seasons are on Peacock, and if you want to watch last night's episode, you need a cable subscription. Our library accesses journals for you in very similar ways (but instead of Hulu, Peacock, and NBC, imagine JSTOR, EBSCOhost, and Wiley). Just like with streaming media, we have tools available that can help you find your way to the platform where your article 'lives.'
When in doubt, Ask a Librarian - we're always happy to help you figure out the best way to access a source!
Option 1: Full Text Links
In many cases, the source you want is linked directly from the database you are searching. If this is the case, you will typically see a link or button or link that says something like Access Resource, Full Text and/or PDF. In CrossSearch, this will usually be listed under the Access options button menu. Below are some screenshots demonstrated how this may appear, depending on the tool you are using:
Option 2: Check for Full Text
If the source is not available in the current database you are searching, you will see an icon or link that says Check for Full Text. Clicking this icon/link will search the Libraries' collections to see if we have the source somewhere else. Below are examples of how this link may appear, depending on the tool you are using:
This link will either bring you directly to the article, or to a page displaying your different options for access. This might include:
- Full Text Options: Links to other databases where we should have the article. Clicking on a link will usually bring you directly to the article. The list will also usually include a link to Google Scholar (see Option 4).
- Holy Cross Library Catalog: A link to search for a print copy of the book and/or journal in the library catalog. See Option 5.
- Interlibrary Loan: A link to request the source from another library. See Option 6.
If no Full Text Options are listed, it is still worth doublechecking that the Check for Full Text finder didn't miss anything!
Option 3: Check Browzine journal finder
The Check for Full text finder is usually accurate; however, if the original database's citation for the source is not perfectly correct, options can get missed. Browzine is like a "cheatsheet" for the databases that allows you to confirm what we actually have.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Using Browzine
Option 4: Google Scholar
If the source you are trying to find is an academic article or book chapter, it might be available in Google Scholar even if the Libraries do not own that journal, book, etc. Scholarly authors will sometimes "publish" their writing on their personal or library websites in order to share it with a greater audience.
Try searching for the title of the source "in quotation marks." If the source has a sub-title, try searching only for the first part of the title to start (search boxes don't like colons!). If the source is available in Google Scholar, you will see a link on the right side of the search results.
Option 5: Check the Catalog
It can be easy to forget that most of the journal articles we access at Holy Cross were originally published in a printed journal, in a format similar to a magazine. The format in which we receive a particular journal (online vs. in print copy) varies based on several different factors. It sometimes happens, particularly with older articles, that an article will not be in our online collection, but may be available somewhere in the library building. The catalog contains information on everything we have in print in the libraries.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Checking the Catalog for Journals
Option 6: Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan or ILL is a free-to-you service that allows you to request books and articles owned by other libraries all over the US (and sometimes, the world). Physical books will arrive through the U.S. Postal Service; articles and chapters will arrive as a PDF scan, delivered to your Holy Cross email.
Articles and chapters usually take 1-3 business days to arrive; if requesting a book, you should plan for it to take about a week (but this timeline will be different depending on the source -- so always request sooner if you can!).
Step-by-Step Instructions for Requesting Items on Interlibrary Loan