Accessing Full Text Resources Using SFX
SFX is a software tool that connects you from a database
citation to available fulltext and other services from the
Rensselaer Libraries. When you see this image:
or the
text "SFX @ RPI" in a database, you can click on it to find out
whether the Rensselaer Libraries have access to the item. If
the fulltext for an item is not available online, SFX also
gives you options to search the library catalog for a print
copy or submit an interlibrary loan request.
Easier Interlibrary Loans with SFX
Placing interlibrary loans from the SFX menu is faster and more accurate than entering your request manually into the interlibrary loan system. If you have already used SFX to determine that we do not have access to the item you want, you can use the "Request material via Interlibrary Loan Service" link on the SFX screen to initiate an interlibrary loan request.
You will first be prompted to log into the interlibrary loan system, and then the information for the item will be automatically copied from SFX into the interlibrary loan form. Check the information over, and then submit it!
Turning on SFX links in Scirus, Google Scholar and PubMed
Most databases will display SFX links automatically if you access the database from the Libraries’ webpages or catalog. However, Scirus, PubMed and Google Scholar need to be configured to display links to SFX.
Turning on SFX links in Scirus
Scirus is sci-tech search engine from Elsevier. Scirus returns results from the whole Web, including access-controlled sites that other search engines don't index.
- Go to Scirus.
- Click on Preferences and enable the Library Partner Link
for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, like this (be sure to
select the Enable button):
- Then click “Save preferences”.
When you do this, a cookie is saved on your computer that tells Scirus to display the SFX button for journal article citations. If you clear your cookies, or access Scirus from a different computer, you will need to set your preferences again.
Turning on SFX links in Google Scholar
If you are accessing Google Scholar from on campus SFX links will show automatically. If you are accessing Google Scholar from off campus, you can turn on SFX links in two ways:
Method 1: Setting preferences in Google Scholar
- Go to Google Scholar.
- Click on "Scholar Preferences".
- Under Library Links, type rensselaer in the search box and click on 'Find Library'
- Check the box for "Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - SFX
@ RPI"
- Click on "Save Preferences" at the bottom of the screen.
When you do this, a cookie is saved on your computer that tells Google Scholar to display SFX links for journal article citations. If you clear your cookies, or access Google Scholar from a different computer, you will need to set your preferences again.
Method 2: Link to Google Scholar from the Rensselaer Libraries' website
SFX links will show if you link to Google Scholar from the articles · journals tab, or any other place on the Rensselaer Libraries' website. You will be prompted to authenticate using your name, RIN, and library PIN.
Turning on SFX links in PubMed
You will need a (free) My NCBI account in which you can set preferences for SFX@RPI.
- Go to PubMed.
- Create or log in to your My NCBI account. Use the "My NCBI" link under PubMed Services in the blue column on the left.
- Within My NCBI, click on PubMed preferences under the Preferences heading.
- Click on the Outside Tool link under PubMed Preferences.
- In the resulting list, navigate to "S," [not R] and choose SFX @ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Then click the green Save button.
Questions?
Contact the Libraries.
This page is maintained by Katie Dunn.