"Search for Full Text" helps you to locate copies of desired articles. Most of Pfau Library's Databases have the "Search for Full Text" option.
Let's begin with some results from a library database search. (These results are from the EBSCOhost Academic database.) In any library database search, some articles will probably have full text immediately available. This is indicated by a "Full Text" link following the article's entry on your list of results.
For the articles that don't have full-text links, use the "Search for Full Text" button that appears after every result. Note: If you use a screen reader, in EBSCOhost, this button link will say, "Search for full text. A new window will open." Other databases may use slightly different text labels for the button icon.
The "Search for Full Text" or "SFX" function opens in a new window. First, it looks for any full-text copies of the article available online. If it finds the article, it will respond with the message, "Full Text available via [name of database]." The name of the library database will be a link. Following this link, using the GO button that follows it, will take you to the article. In some cases, following the link will take you directly to the HTML or PDF version of the article. But sometimes, retrieving the PDF or "page image" version of the article might require you to follow another link somewhere on the page.
In some cases, Search for Full Text will respond with the message: "Our quick search did not find the full text online, but..." In that case, use the next option, to check the library catalog. The library might have paper copies of the journal. You will need to make note of the volume number and/or year that you need.
If the catalog search indicates that the journal is available, you will need to check the Location and Holdings information in the catalog record to determine whether the library has the specific year or volume of the journal you need. Paper copies of journals are shelved on the third floor of the library. For more info about how to navigate the 3rd Floor, check the OLLIE tutorial "Locate an Article on the Shelf."
But what if the library didn't have the article at all? In that case, you could order a copy through Interlibrary Loan. This the third option in the "Search for Full Text" window. Pfau Library's Interlibrary System will open in a new window. Log-in to fill out a request for your article. Interlibrary Loan is usually free, but allow at least 1 week for delivery!
Summing up:
An article could be...
Search for Full Text helps you find out!
You've reached the end of this tutorial lesson.