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Research 101 - Finding Articles: Full Text

Get the basics on articles & databases!

To Get the Full Text of an Article

If you're in a database, look for any of the following:

  • "PDF Full Text" Link - includes photos & charts
  • "HTML Full Text" Link - does not include photos or charts
  • "Full Text via OhioLINK EJC" Link -  PDF available from OhioLINK's Electronic Journals Center

If you don't immediately see a full-text link in your database results, then look for the following:

  • " Find It! via Full Text Finder" Link - attempts to find full text in another library database

If you are not in a database & are looking for a specific article, you have other options--just ask a librarian for assistance.

Screen shot of database results with an option to view HTML Full Text or PDF Full Text

Image of database results with option to "Find It via Full Text Finder"

Using "Find It via Full-text Finder"

In an EBSCO database, once you click on Find It via Full-text Finder, you will have potentially at least 3 options for the full article:

  1. Full text of the article from another database
  2. A Link to the Library Catalog
  3. A Link to Interlibrary Loan

Option 1: Full Text in another Database

After you click on "Find It! via Full Text Finder," if this option is available, you will get a link to the full-text article in another database.

Image of database pop-up window with option to find full text

After you click on "Find It! via Full Text Finder," if the first option is not available, you will then have at least 2 other options: the library catalog or our interlibrary loan service.

Image of database pop-up window with option to link out to the ODU Library Catalog or Interlibrary Loan

Option 2: ODU Library Catalog

  • Click on the link to search for the JOURNAL the article is in
  • If you see the journal in your list of results, go back to the article citation in your other window and read the article citation to determine the volume year, volume number, and issue number that you need.
  • You will need this information to find the article on the Library shelf. 

Option 3: Interlibrary Loan

If the ODU Library does not have what you need, you may still be able to obtain a copy of the article through a service provided by the library called Interlibrary Loan.

  • Interlibrary Loan allows you to request copies of articles from other libraries when the article you desire is not available online and not available at the ODU Library.
  • Every ODU Library database provides a link to using the option of Interlibrary Loan; the library's home page also links to Interlibrary Loan. 

TIP: If you are already in a database and have identified your article, if you click on the “Find It” link for that article, then select “Request this Item through Interlibrary Loan," our Interlibrary Loan service, Tipasa, will automatically fill in the form with the citation information for you!

Learn More about Interlibrary Loan at ODU with this Guide (coming soon!):

Take the Challenge!

If you are in a library database and have found an article that you need to request through Interlibrary Loan, do you need to get the complete article citation to use the Interlibrary Loan service? Click to view the answer below

Well, you do need the citation information, but if you are already in a database and have identified your article, if you click on the “Find It” link for that article, then select “Request this Item through Interlibrary Loan," our Interlibrary Loan service, Tipasa, will automatically fill in the form with the citation information for you!

You are correct! If you are already in a database and have identified your article, if you click on the “Find It” link for that article, then select “Request this Item through Interlibrary Loan,” our Interlibrary Loan service, Tipasa, will automatically fill in the form with the citation information for you!

How long would you need typically for an article or a book to arrive through Interlibrary Loan? Click on each of the items below to find out if you are right!

Books usually take around 7-10 days. Plan accordingly!

Articles can take anywhere between 2 and 10 days, depending on whether or not there is a potential lending library available that can send the desired article electronically and how long that library's process for lending takes.

Make sure you give yourself enough time when you do your research!