Say you need to track down a specific article - one that you saw mentioned in another article, or that someone has recommended to you. In order to track down the full-text, first make sure you have as complete a citation for the article as possible. That will make it easier for you to track down the article using one of the following options.
Use the Articles Search
The library catalog’s Article search can help you find a specific article using either the title of the article or the DOI (Digital Object Identifier). The DOI is like the ID number of the specific article. Not every article will have a DOI. Having a complete citation will let you know whether your article has a DOI or not. You can use the Articles search either from the Articles tab on the library homepage search box: 
Or, if you are already in the catalog, by choosing the "Articles" options from the dropdown menu after the catalog search box: 
If the article does not show up when you search for the title or DOI in this article search, you can try the other options listed below.
Check the Library's Journal Collection
To search for a specific publication, first make sure you know the name of the publication (journal, magazine, or newspaper) that the article was published in. Then click the Journals A-Z link under Find, Borrow, Request on the library homepage. Do not be discouraged by this step if your article is from a publication that isn't a journal - if the library has it, you will still be able to find it here.
Once you have clicked on the Journals A-Z link, you will see a search bar labelled Journal Search. Type in the title of your publication here - we are not searching for the actual article yet. Hit search and then look in the list of results to see if the publication you are looking for is present. If your publication is listed and there is a link underneath labelled Available Online, click on the Available Online link to see your options for accessing that publication.
If your publication does not show up, it means the library does not hold a subscription. If this happens, or if your desired publication is only available in print, you can ask a librarian for assistance in accessing it.
Once you have clicked on an access option under the View Online section, you will be taken to a menu for your publication inside the database. Depending on which database the publication is stored in, there are different ways that this menu/screen will look. However, any database should allow you to either search within a specific publication, browse the publication by year, or both.
If you prefer to search and the option is available, search for the title of your article. Make sure the search box indicates that you are searching within the publication and not the database as a whole - there may be multiple search boxes in different places on the page. If you don't spot it in the results, try including the author's name in your search as well.
If there is not an option to search inside the specific publication, or if searching doesn't bring you what you want, you may be able to browse to the article. For this method, it's most helpful if you know the year that the article was published, as well as the date or the volume and issue number. Use this information to move through the browsing menu until you find your specific article.
Look for a Copy in Google Scholar
If the library does not have access to a copy of your article, and it is from a scholarly journal, you can try to find a free version using Google Scholar. From within Google Scholar, search for as exact a version of the title as you can. Once you hit search and have results, make sure the article you are looking for has appeared. If it has, look to the right to see if there is PDF or HTML link located there. If so, that means there is a copy freely available online. Click on the link to access it.
If there is no full-text link to the right, that means there is no free access to that article. If it's not in the library databases either (you can configure Google Scholar to find database articles as well), you may need to request it.
Request the Article Using ILL
If you configure Google Scholar to find database articles, you may see Get It @ Bradley links to the right of Google Scholar results, or Get Help @ Bradley links below results, hidden beneath an arrow. In library databases, when the full-text of an article is not available within the database, you may also see a Get It @ Bradley button. Any of these links or buttons will take you to the full-text or to a page where you can request an article to be sent to you.
Once you have clicked on a Get It or Get Help link, you will see a screen with more options for accessing the article. Not every option will appear for every article. The possible options are:
- Full Text Available - it turns out the full-text is available through the library and you can click here to get it!
- BU Library can buy the article and deliver to your BU email in a few hours - before you click this option, make sure you have also looked for a free copy in Google Scholar and in our databases. If it's really not there, click this link, enter your email and we'll buy it for you. Checking Google Scholar and the databases first ensures that we don't have to pay again for an article we already own.
- Search for a free copy in Google Scholar - if you haven't already searched Google Scholar, this is a handy link to do that.
- ILLiad --- Interlibrary Loan - again for articles that are not available through the databases or Google Scholar, this sends a request on your behalf to other libraries who can provide you with a PDF copy via email. You will log in with your Bradley University username and password.