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Alternative access routes during SFX outages

Whilst Library Services aims to have our electronic services running continuously, there may be times when a scheduled outage is required for maintenance or an unexpected outage occurs.

Linking to e-journals and e-books

During any outages details are published on our websites and alternative methods of access will be provided, if possible. Below are guidelines on how to find and connect to to e-journal articles and e-books when experiencing problems with our SFX@UCL service.

If there is an outage, what won't work?

  • In Explore, SFX@UCL buttons and "View Online" links for e-journals and some e-books won't function (see screenshot below)
  • The Find e-journal service
  • SFX@UCL buttons and links in other databases (including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar)

SFX screenshot
 

Alternative access routes

We recommend the following routes for connecting to e-journal articles and e-books during any outage. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.

  1. Use a computer connected to the UCL network, or connect to Desktop@UCL Anywhere remotely and use a web browser within it - this will give access to most of our licensed eresources without requiring login.
  2. You may continue to search Explore in order to find out which e-journals, articles and e-books we subscribe to. Then use a general search engine or Google Scholar to obtain a link to the resource (links from Explore will not work). If you have followed step 1, you should be able to access our subscriptions without login.
  3. When using a third party database such as Web of Science or PubMed, unfortunately there will be no indication of UCL subscriptions. You can cross-check with Explore, using step 2.

Checking whether UCL has access to particular e-journals, articles or e-books

To find out whether UCL subscribes to a particular e-journal

  1. Go to Explore
  2. Select the drop-down option "Journal titles" below the search box, then enter your title search
  3. You can use filter options on your search results, e.g. Show only "Online resources" and Type "Journals"
  4. Once you have located the relevant journal, if there is a 'View Online' link below it then we have at least some volumes of the e-journal. Unfortunately, details of which years/volumes are included in the subscription will not be available during the outage. The "View Online" link will not function during the outage. See above for alternatives.

To confirm whether UCL has access to a particular article online

  1. Go to Explore
  2. Select the drop-down "Journal articles" below the search box, then enter your article search
  3. If you locate the relevant article, it should have a "View Online" link below it and you can then search Google Scholar or the general web for the article and connect seamlessly while on the UCL network.

To confirm whether UCL has access to a particular e-book

  1. Go to Explore
  2. Select the drop-down "Library catalogue" below the search box, then enter your book title search
  3. You can use filter options on your search results, e.g. Show only "Online resources" and Type "Book"
  4. Once you have located the relevant book, click the "View Online" link below it but please note that this won't work for all e-books.

Using the Explore Access Points during the outage

  1. Search Explore in order to find out which e-journals, articles and e-books we subscribe to. See detailed explanations for each type above.
  2. Open a new tab in the web browser and load a search engine e.g. http://scholar.google.com or http://www.google.co.uk then search for the resource you have found in Explore.
  3. Click through to the full text, which in most cases will not require login as the Explore Access Points are on the UCL network.
  4. A handful of resources require login on these computers and are not available to visitors.