Get the sources you've chosen

Hopefully at this point you've searched a few databases on your topic, and you've found some sources that could help you with your research.

You may have noticed that some databases only offer minimal details about a source (such as the author, title, possibly an abstract, etc.) but not the entire full-text of the source. However, the database should offer a link to get to the full-text. But each database is different and often links to full text are glitchy. The instructions below will help you gain skills for getting to full-text, but if you run into trouble (and many people do) then don't waste time – just ask for help. Use the blue ASK US! box on the library's home page and note that the chat service is the usually the quickest way to get assistance.

To get started, here's how to optimize your chances of getting to full-text:

Start your research from Cline Library's home page. The databases linked from Cline Library's home page are already set up to optimize your chances of getting to full-text!
If you are conducting research off-campus (rather than on the NAU campus network) then you may want to connect to the NAU campus network using VPN. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and you can learn how to set it up here!

Next, let's suppose you're searching a library database, you found a source, and you want to see the full-text of that source.

If so, look for and click the FullText@NAU link, or try ANY other links that look promising. To the right you see an array of different links you might see depending on the database you are in. All of these could potentially lead you to the full-text of a source.

Note that in Google Scholar, the FullText@NAU link is over on the right side of your results, while other times it can only be found by clicking the double arrow below the source's blurb. Oh, and if you don't see links to Fulltext@NAU next to ANY of your Google Scholar results, then you may need to configure Google Scholar using these instructions.

QUESTION 1. Most databases don't provide the entire full-text of a source; instead, you have to find and click links that will (hopefully) link you out to the full-text.

true
false

(Answer at bottom of page.)

WHAT'S NEXT? – Refer to these FIVE possible scenarios.

Scenario ONE: You easily get to the full-text. Hurrah! You are done.

The best-case scenario is that once you find and click any links you see to full-text, you'll get sent directly to the full-text of the source or to a page that has a direct link to the full-text of the source. If that happens, you're done, you've got the full-text. No need to consult any of the other scenarios below.

Scenario TWO: You see a new window with one or more promising links.

Try clicking any links that appear under "Available Online". These links should (hopefully) lead you to the full-text of the source you need.

Scenario THREE: You see an option to "Get it from other locations." (BE AWARE THAT THIS SERVICE IS ALSO KNOWN AS "DOCUMENT DELIVERY.")

Click the link to "Get it." You may be prompted to log in. If so, log in. Once logged in, you may need to once again click on the link to "Get it." You'll then see a quick form to fill out, after which you click the Send icon.

Just so you know, "Get it from other locations" is also known as the library's Document Delivery Service and so you may hear it referred to that way.

Scenario FOUR: You run into any number of confusing problems.

You might be sent to a page that doesn't seem to provide any obvious links to the full-text of the source, nor does it have a link to Get it from other locations.

Or, maybe the links you click prompt you to pay for access to the source; this is known as hitting a paywall.

If any of those things happen, or if you run into a different problem, simply use the blue ASK US! box on the library's home page to report the problem and get help; note that the chat service is the usually the quickest way to get assistance.

Scenario FIVE: You get to a record for a physical item in the library's collection.

You might end up seeing a record that looks like what you see to the right. This is a record for a physical item that can be found in the library. Here's what you do to find a physical item, such as a book, in the library:

1. Check to make sure it is in place and 'loanable' (which means it's not checked out by another library user).

2. Note its location, which might say Book Stacks or Ask Us Desk (Reserves) or Special Collections, etc.

3. Note its alphanumeric shelf-address also known as its call number.

4. Use the link to LOCATE to get a better idea where the book is in the library.

To actually find the item, it'll probably be easier to bring the item's location and call number to the Ask Us! Desk to get directions. You'll find this desk just to your right after you enter Cline Library.

Ok, but what if you are not searching a database, but instead just happen to have a citation for a source, and you want to know if the library can provide it?

Simply look the source up in Quick Search, like this:

Then, if you don't see the source at or near the top of your results, click the link to expand your search (this option will be just under the search you entered):

Hopefully this will bring up the source along with a link to "Get it for me from other libraries."

Recall that "Get it from other locations" is also known as the library's Document Delivery Service and so you may hear it referred to that way.

Once you click the link to get the source from other libraries, you'll see one or more options to click a link to "Get it." You may then be prompted to log in. If so, log in. Once logged in, you may need to once again click on the link to "Get it." You'll then see a quick form to fill out, after which you click the Send icon.

QUESTION 2. Let's say you found a journal article that looks like it might be relevant to the topic you are researching. However, you can't seem to get to the full-text of the article. What should you do? Select the best answer from the choices below.

A. Use the library's chat service to ask for help.

B. Or, give up since it is too much hassle.

C. Or, drop out of college.

D. Or, choose a different topic.

(Answer at bottom of page.)

Ok, so what did you get out of Lesson 6?

You should be able to choose the best keywords that represent your topic and you should be aware of the benefits of experimenting with synonyms.
You should be able to search Quick Search on the library's website, and you should be able to navigate to other library databases.
You should know how to get the sources you need using links to full-text or getting the source from another library, and you should know how to get help if you run into problems.

You are finished with Lesson 6. What's next? That depends....

If you were told to read this lesson and then take a test to gain an official CANVAS achievement badge for mastering this lesson, then you are in the wrong place! You need to enroll in the CANVAS version of this tutorial, using this self-enroll link: https://ac.nau.edu/lms-apps/self-enroll/500696

If you don't need to collect an official CANVAS achievement badge but you've been asked to take the tests associated with lessons in this tutorial, then feel free to use this self enroll link: https://ac.nau.edu/lms-apps/self-enroll/481893 (NOTE that taking these tests will NOT result in gaining an achievement badge, however, you can still DOCUMENT YOUR COMPLETION of tutorial tests.)

Regardless of whether or not you need to take the tests, when you are ready you can click through to the next lesson!

THANK YOU!!

Answers to questions on this page:Question 1. trueQuestion 2. A

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