Frequently Asked Questions:
SFX Linking Service
What is SFX?
SFX is an electronic linking service that creates direct links from Booth Library's electronic databases to the full text of articles (where available) and to other related resources and services. If the full text of an article is unavailable in one database, SFX will indicate whether you might be able to find it in another database. If so, it will provide a link so that you can retrieve the article automatically.
If no full text is available, SFX will help you locate the item in the EIU Online Catalog. If Booth Library doesn't own any issues of the journal, SFX will let you fill out an online form to obtain your item via interlibrary loan.
How do I find it?
Many of Booth Library's electronic databases are SFX-compliant. This means that SFX options will appear after you do a search and are browsing through your search results. Click on the "Find it EIU" icon to display a menu of options that will help you locate the item.
As an example, when you search in EBSCO Academic Search Elite or any other EBSCO database, the SFX link button will appear on the initial list of search results. It will also appear on the detailed display for the article (when you click on the article title to view the abstract).
Other electronic databases may be set up slightly differently. Within Article 1st, Periodical Abstracts, and WilsonSelect, you will find the SFX link button on the detailed display for an item, after you click on the article title to view more information. Also, some databases do not allow us to display the "Find it EIU" graphic. In these cases, look for a text link labeled "Find it @ EIU," or a small gray SFX button.
How does SFX work?
After you click on the SFX link icon, a new window of menu options will pop up, as follows.
The citation (title of the item, publication name, ISSN, date, volume, issue, and pages) will appear towards the top of the screen. They will be labeled Title and Source. Below the citation, under the "Electronic full text" heading, SFX will indicate whether the item you want is available in full text, and where.
If full text is available, click on either the database name or the red GO button to view the text of the item in a new window. The choices will depend on the article you're trying to find. In some cases, your article may be available from more than one source. In rare instances, the GO button will lead you to the journal rather than directly to the article. If so, browse or search the available issues until you find the article you want.
The "Library holdings" heading provides a link to the EIU Online Catalog, so that you can search for the call number of the item in Booth Library's collection.
"Citing your sources" will advise you on how to cite your article in a bibliography using MLA, APA, Chicago, or CBE style formats. (If the format you want isn't provided here, please contact a reference librarian for assistance.)
"Publication information" will provide more information on the journal, in this example Letters in Applied Microbiology, from Ulrich's Periodical Directory. Among other things, Ulrich's will indicate whether a particular journal is considered to be a scholarly source (also called "refereed" or "peer-reviewed").
If no full text is available, you will see the option to request the item via interlibrary loan. Before requesting an article via interlibrary loan, please check the EIU Online Catalog to make sure that Booth Library doesn't already own the journal issue you need. Fill in the blanks of the online form as completely as possible. You will be required to include your name, library ID number (14-digit number on the lower right of your Panther card), and EIU email address.
Which of Booth Library's electronic databases are SFX-enabled?
As of fall semester 2005, Booth Library is in the process of setting up SFX to work with as many of its electronic databases as possible. The following databases are currently being set up to locate full-text articles via SFX:
EBSCO databases:
Academic Search Elite, American Humanities Index, Applied Science and Technology Abstracts, Art Abstracts, Biological and Agricultural Index, Business Source Elite, CINAHL with Full Text, Communication and Mass Media Complete, EconLit, ERIC via EBSCO, Health Source, Library Literature & Information Science, Military & Government Collection, MLA International Bibliography, Newspaper Source, Professional Development Collection, PsycInfo, RILM Abstracts of Music Literature, Social Sciences Abstracts, SPORT Discus.
InfoTrac databases:
Expanded Academic ASAP
FirstSearch databases:
ABI/INFORM, AGRICOLA, Article 1st, Arts and Humanities Search, Clase/Periodica, ERIC via FirstSearch, GEOBASE, GeoRef, MEDLINE, Periodical Abstracts, WilsonSelect Plus.
Other databases:
America: History and Life, Biosis Previews, ComDisDome, Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management, Historical Abstracts, MathSciNet, PAIS International, Physical Education Index, PubMed, Readers' Guide Abstracts, Readers' Guide Retrospective.
As additional databases become compatible with SFX, they will be added to this list.
How do I get more help?
Please contact a reference librarian if you need help with using SFX, searching Booth Library's databases, or any other library resources or services. See our Ask-a-Librarian page for details on the different ways you can reach us.
