Library Briefings

Announcing ScienceDirect:
Unlimited full-text access to e-journals -- anytime, anywhere

WHAT:
Northwestern University Library, Galter Health Sciences Library, and Pritzker Legal Research Center are pleased to announce a joint agreement with Elsevier to provide full-text electronic access to Elsevier, Harcourt, and Academic Press journals through ScienceDirect. Content includes journals subscribed to by all three libraries, including full backfiles extending to 1995. ScienceDirect is currently one of the world’s largest providers of online literature, with an emphasis on the sciences.

The Northwestern libraries jointly subscribe to more than 700 titles in ScienceDirect. Because there is some duplication in subscriptions between campuses, the libraries will be able to use credits to select some additional titles. Elsevier has agreed to open its entire database of 1800 electronic journals THROUGH DECEMBER 2003 so that the Northwestern community can explore its contents. In December, the libraries’ selectors will determine which additional titles to add based on campus input and usage data provided by Elsevier.

WHERE:

Access ScienceDirect at http://www.sciencedirect.com. On the University Library Web page, ScienceDirect is also linked in the ER (Electronic Resources) at http://er.library.northwestern.edu. Search for “ScienceDirect” or “Elsevier” to locate the link.

HOW:

The database is available 24/7 from any Evanston or Chicago campus address. There is no limit to the number of users who can access the files simultaneously. Off-campus access is available via dial-up modem or the VPN.

WHO:
Contact the libraries’ selectors (http://staffweb.library.northwestern.edu/cm/cm_pages/selectname.html) for more information on this new service. The reference desks at any of the libraries can also provide immediate assistance and help in accessing the database. Comments and suggestions are appreciated. Training and additional promotion are planned for the fall.