1. Accessing Journals in Electronic Full Text
Jennifer Lyon, MS, MLIS
Eskind Biomedical Library
Last Updated: 02/18/10

2. Starting From PubMed
Some links to full text are available from PubMed. After doing search, select the “Abstract” Display setting and click Apply.

3. Pub-Med Full-Text Links (2)
Multiple buttons available
Publisher button – May/May not be free
PubMed Central button – Free to anyone
Vanderbilt button – Free to VUMC
Local Print button - May be here in hard copy

4. PubMed Full-Text Links
Does not include links to all VUMC-available full-text journals
Does contain some links provided by the publisher who wants you to purchase the articles
Occasionally will not work properly
BOTTOM LINE: Do not assume we don’t have it if you can’t link from PubMed

5. OVID Full-Text Links Some links to full text are available from OVID.
Look for: PDF Full Text or OVID Full Text
But…

6. OVID Full Text
Does not include links to all VUMC-available full-text journals
Not all articles are available in pdf format; some are only available in HTML or ASCII text
BOTTOM LINE: Do not assume we don’t have it if you can’t get the full text in OVID

7. How to Get Full-Text EBL Digital Library ACORN Worldcat
Document Delivery Service

8. EBL Digital Library http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/diglib
Contains all electronic journals that EBL provides, but does not contain information on print collection
Does not contain all electronic journals provided by other Vanderbilt libraries
Handles some journal abbreviations, but not all: search with full journal titles
Browse journals alphabetically by title, subject or collection
May contain trial subscriptions for journals EBL is considering purchasing; some may be outdated
Will supply username and password for journal if required by publisher – ONLY source of this information

9. Note: Finding journal full titles
Use PubMed’s journal database

10. PubMed Journals Database
Search with abbreviation to find full journal title
Note: ONLY includes journals in PubMed

11. Alternative Sources for Full Journal Titles
Ulrichs
WorldCat

12. ACORN http://acorn.library.vanderbilt.edu

13. Search ACORN for Journal
Type in journal abbreviation or name
SELECT “periodical title begins with” from dropdown menu
Click Search button

14. About ACORN
Contains full collections of ALL Vanderbilt Libraries (EBL, Science, Central, Education, Law, Management, etc.)
Contains BOTH electronic and print journals
Usually accepts journal abbreviations

15. ‘Periodical Title Begins With’ search provides alphabetic list of available journals that begin with your query: Select and click on the title you want.

16. Results show records for BOTH print and electronic versions IF available
Print = “shelved by title” – click on details
Electronic = “available online” – click on “VU Finder” button

17. VU Finder Displays all electronic access sources for the journal
Note the availability, which varies depending on source
A journal may be available from multiple sources
Click on the “Go” buttons to access the journal

18. Problems in ACORN
Multiple libraries and librarians entering records, so can be redundant or have mistakes
Not all journals can be found using abbreviation: if abbreviation doesn’t work, try full journal title
If something looks wrong or isn’t working: CALL Eskind at

19. Example: Jt Comm J Qual Improv
Search for this in digital library with abbreviation – is not found
Find full title in PubMed Journals:
Joint Commision Journal on Quality Improvement
Search Digital Library and ACORN with full title: journal is available in EBL in print from mid-1993 to 2002.

20. Example: J Accid Emerg Med
Some journals undergo name changes!!!!
J ACCID EMERG MED = EMERG MED J
Search digital library with ‘J Accid Emerg Med’:
Search digital library with ‘Emerg Med J’:

21. Journal Name Changes: PubMed’s Journal Database

22. Also Note:
If a login required by journal publisher, that information is ONLY available in the digital library, not ACORN
Some journals only give us certain date ranges or may be missing some years
If it looks strange or you think you should have access and don’t – CALL US!

23. Who In The World Does Have It?
“Worldcat” -
Collection information for many libraries combined

24. WorldCat Example: Journal of Asthma

25. Last Resort: Document Delivery

26. About Document Delivery
Order via EBL’s Document Delivery service NOT the ACORN service
It is free to you if the journal is not available at any Vanderbilt library in print or electronic form
EBL picks up the cost, so don’t abuse

27. If you really get stuck…
Call Eskind
Submit questions with AskELIS
Call me
me: