Librarians

CIAP Library Help

Inter library loans and commercial document suppliers

Due to an exception to copyright laws, libraries are entitled to supply copies of journal articles when another library requests them.

Many libraries around Australia share information about which journals they hold through participation in various networks. This allows for faster location and delivery of articles between libraries. To find out whether you are able to request this service from your own library, please contact library staff directly.

In general, libraries do not supply directly to individuals making a phone or mail request, and many health libraries do not grant access to individuals from outside their own Area Health Service.

Commercial document suppliers provide an alternative or supplement to inter library loans. Some of these include Infotrieve, CarlUncover, and the British Library. They are useful for fast, fixed-cost delivery or for obtaining documents not available in Australia. Many libraries already use their services. Most companies will also offer their services to individuals who are willing to pay.

Ovid database field guides

Ovid have produced a number of database guides that you can access in their website.

Each field guide includes an alphabetical list of every field in the database together with corresponding two-letter labels and search examples. Also included is information on the scope of the database, producer information, coverage years, update frequency, sample documents, and much more.

Searching techniques

See User guides and tutorials for general and specific help on how to search the databases. Find out about CIAP education being organised in your Area Health Service.

You can always ask your CIAP librarian to do the search for you when it is just too complicated or you do not have the time. Note, however, that some libraries may charge for this service.

Locating journals and journal articles

Thousands of journals in the bibliographic databases (eg Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO) in CIAP do not have full-text access via CIAP or the Internet.

The hospital library itself may hold a print subscription or have other means of obtaining the document for you. Documents can often be obtained on inter library loan or from a commercial document supply company. Contact your Area Health Service library to check if a journal is held or to request that they optain a document for you.

This page was last updated on Thursday, 26-Jun-2008 15:15:51 EST