Accessing journal articles

eBulletin is a current awareness service, and while we provide links to free sources where possible, we do not leave out important new articles because they are not free access. Open access articles in the PHC RIS eBulletin are displayed with the open access icon

For those lucky enough to have access to a library service this is not a problem. However, PHC RIS frequently receive requests from subscribers to our eBulletin, including the Divisions of General Practice who don’t have access to a library service, for copies of the journal articles we provide links to. Unfortunately many journals are only available on subscription and are subject to copyright laws which prohibit this.

Here are some ways that you can access the full text health and medical literature. However, unless a journal is open access or supplied by a library which subscribes to the journal, there will be a charge. Expect to pay at least $13 for an article.

Is it in an open access journal?

Pub Med
Most listings in the Pub Med database now link to sources where the article may either be downloaded from an open access site or purchased on-line from the publisher.

Free Medical Journals
This site has a listing of journals which make their articles free after a waiting period.

Are there preprint copies available?

Scirus
An academic search engine which searches for not only journal content but also researchers’ homepages, pre-print servers and institutional repositories.

Google Scholar
Google Scholar provides several access options for each article and sometimes these are pre-prints.

Australian Research online
A service of the National Library of Australia which lists Australian university and government publications.

Is it available through your State or Municipal Library?

State Libraries offer free on-line access to some full text databases, including Proquest and Meditext, on-line. Many more can be accessed by using terminals in the library building. To register, visit your State Library website and register to receive a library card. You can then log and use their resources.

Due to licensing restrictions, use must be for private research and study purposes only - no use is allowed for business, commercial or work-related purposes. If the article you require is not available, it can be ordered for you through the Library’s Document Supply Service. This is not a free service. State Libraries also operate on-line reference services where you can receive help in accessing articles.

You may also be able to obtain an inter library loan through your local municipal library. Check with your friendly Librarian.

Can you find a print copy?

Try the Australian Libraries Gateway, from the National Library of Australia, which links the combined catalogues of all Australia’s libraries. You may find a library in your area with a print version that you can photocopy, however with the move to digital collections rather than print, this option is increasingly unavailable.

Use a document delivery service

There are also commercial document delivery services which provide a speedy service and have reduced rates for non profit organisations. You will need to register to set up an account.

Loansome Doc
A document delivery service run through Pub Med and the US National Library of Medicine.
Requesters need to have registered both with National Library of Australia and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Once you have registered you can order articles from within a Pub Med search.