How do I find journal articles online?
You can find journal articles in one of the many databases that we provide access to. From the library's homepage, the library catalog, VisionCite, and PubMed are searchable. There is a list of other databases that we provide access to on the website's left sidebar. Some journals are accessible by clicking on the eJournals link on the sidebar. When you find a record for an article you want, click on the red "Get it at ICO" button. If you still can't find the journal or article you're looking for, contact the library and we will do our best to get it for you via Document Delivery (interlibrary loan). From the library's website, click on "Request articles or books" and enter as much information as you have or send an email to cshepard@ico.edu.
What is VisionCite?
VisionCite is a citation database of optometric, ophthalmic and vision-related literature created by library staff at ICO beginning in 1984 to the present. PubMed indexes 4 optometric journals, and we index 35. We index 176 vision-related journals, 85 of which are not indexed in PubMed at all. The database includes the journal citation and links to the fulltext, if available. To search VisionCite, select the VisionCite tab in the search box on the library homepage (or click "Online Catalog" and limit the library to "VisionCite Database"). All articles in VisionCite are available in print in the library, and many are available online. Subscriptions to VisionCite are available to ICO alumni and outside institutions. Click here for subscription information. For additional information, read the VisionCite help page.
What is Citation Linker?
Citation Linker enables you to take any article citation you have, (a VisionCite record, for example) and enter it to get full text online access. To use it, look for the button that says Citation Linker on the library's home page. Once you've opened the Citation Linker, enter any or all of the citation information you have on hand. Tip: normally the journal name (or ISSN) and volume/issue/page number are all you need to get started. Click Go. A new window will open and let you know your options for accessing the article. If full text is available, the source and years available will be listed at the top. If no full text is available, you have the option to check if the library owns a paper copy of the journal. If the library does not own the title in print, simply select the Document Delivery Service button and then fill in the form that opens in a new window. The great part about this option is that the citation information you previously entered is automatically filled in for you. Once you hit submit, your request is sent to the library and we will get it for you. Normally this takes anywhere from 24 hours to 2 weeks.
What are these?
You may have noticed while searching databases like PubMed and EBSCOhost you see red buttons labeled 'Get It at ICO!' These buttons appear as part of software that enables you to reach online resources faster and easier. The software is called SFX and links users from source citations in databases like PubMed to the full text electronic access that ICO has paid for. When you look at a citation in PubMed, you'll see our Get It! button. When you select this button you'll get a new window (the SFX menu) detailing your options for full text access. Simply pick the source of your choice and click Go. In cases where ICO doesn't have paid access, you have the option to request articles via our Document Delivery Service by clicking that button on the SFX menu. The option to search the library catalog for print access or contact the library for help appears on every menu.
I clicked on the red button, but don't see a link for Fulltext. What do I do?
If Fulltext access is not listed on the screen after you click on Get It ICO!, you have two other options. The first option is to search the Library catalog. When you see this option, the Library has a print subscription to the journal you want, but not online access. When you click this link, the Library catalog will open in a new window and you can scan the journal record to make sure we have the particular issue you want. You'll then need to go to the second floor of the Library and find the article yourself. The second option is Document Delivery (interlibrary loan); if you see this option, then ICO doesn't have access to the journal at all, and clicking this link takes you to a request form where you can ask the Library staff to get the article for you from another Library (usually within 1-10 business days).
I clicked the red button and got the Fulltext option, but I need an issue that is outside the date range listed. What do I do?
If the Fulltext option is listed but excludes the issue you want, the Library may or may not have a print subscription. To find out, go to the Online Catalog and search for the name of the journal you're looking for. Search the journal record for the issue you want, and if the Library has it you can come to the second floor to read it. If not, you can request a copy of the article by clicking on "Request Articles or Books" on the library website and entering the citation.
What library resources can I get online when I'm OFF CAMPUS?
Some of the library's electronic resources are restricted to IP addresses on campus and others are available by password or for free online. When you are off campus (if you live in the RC, your room is considered off campus), you will be asked for a User ID and Password. Contact the library staff for this information. It is limited to current students, faculty and employees. This information is not available to Alumni because of licensing restrictions. You can check the list of journals, which is available at http://library.ico.edu/ejournalxtrnl.html, so that you can plan to access IP-restricted articles during your next campus visit. For example, if your Citation Linker search says that full text is an option, but you can't get access to the article, try again when you are on campus.
What can I get if I am a 4th year on externship?
If you're on externship, you can use the Off Campus online instructions (above) to access many materials. Contact the library staff for your library Catalog username & password and you will be able to search the catalog and VisionCite, as well as renew any books you may have checked out. If you find an article that you would like that is IP-restricted, contact the library (see below) and we will get it to you if you are more than 50 miles from campus. You may contact the library via phone (312-949-7152) or email (cshepard@ico.edu) and we will send you any articles you may need (via email or mail) or even books we have in our collection.
What can I get if I am an alum?
ICO alumni have library borrowing privileges for life. Simply contact the library (312-949-7152 or cshepard@ico.edu) with your request. We will lend books and copy articles in our collection and mail/email them to you at no charge. You are responsible for returning materials as needed. Alumni living within 50 miles of ICO must pick up books in person.
What is a peer-reviewed or refereed journal and how do I find one?
The terms "peer-review" and "refereed" when applied to journals tell you how the journal accepts articles for publication, and mean approximately the same thing. In these cases, articles submitted to a journal are sent out to a panel of reviewers "blind" i.e. without information identifying the author. This group of peers or referees judge the article's worth based on the actual content (in theory), and journals that employ this method are generally more highly thought of than others. When the faculty want you to cite a "scholarly" journal, these are the sorts of publications to use.
How do I save searches for authors or subjects in VisionCite or iLink?
The Library can automatically notify you if new articles or books are acquired on your research topics. To create My Favorites, go to the library's Online Catalog. In the top right corner, enter your library user ID and PIN. (Please contact a library staff member if you need to obtain your library user id and pin.) Search the library catalog using the desired search terms and/or authors. Find an item that best fits your research interests. On the left side bar, click on "Tell me when new materials on these topics are available." The online catalog automatically can add the first subject heading as a "My Favorite." The Library's website now will list your favorite topics and/or authors on the screen whenever you log on to your account. If you check the box by "I want all authors and subjects of items I check out be counted automatically as My Favorites" it will add ALL the subject headings from that book to your My Favorities list. If you click on My Profile you also can adjust that setting. To see the list of your own My Favorites and to modify them, click on "More Favorites" at the bottom of the opening search webpage while logged into the online catalog. Click on "Modify" at the top toolbar. Delete any authors and/or topics in which you are no longer interested. Add new topics and/or authors by performing a new search, and choosing items that reflect your research needs.
How do I join the Lectures MP3 Group in TheView?
Go to TheView Log in and click on Campus Life. In the left column is a Campus Group folder. Click on it. Click on Browse Groups. Scroll down to Lectures MP3 Files Group - Click on the Join button on the right side. That will get you into the group. To use it, in the left column, under Quick Links, you should find My Groups. Click on it and choose Lectures MP3 files. That should bring up the courses and lectures available. Quicktime does not allow you to save the file but you can play it on the library computers. Headphones are available in Media Circulation. Windows MediaPlayer should allow you to save the file.