Use the PAU Library's search tools to locate accessible materials before you place a request. Instructions for using these tools are tabbed below.
Begin by searching for journal articles, book chapters, and other documents that are indexed in the PAU databases. As you go about your search and find relevant results, it's very important to click on each title to review the full database record. This will allow you to verify that the result matches your needs in terms of content, format, language of publication, etc. If the database record includes a full-text link, then the item described in the record is available either by subscription through the library or from an open-access source. Just click on the link for access.
You can search for a book in the WorldCat Discovery library catalog if you're looking for a chapter that isn't indexed in the PAU databases. If the the library owns the book in print, you can check it out at the library circulation desk. If the library subscribes to the book in electronic format, or if an open-access digital copy is available, you can click on the link to access the chapter you need.
You can also search for journal articles in WorldCat Discovery, but the best way to find journal articles would be to perform a literature search using the PAU databases.
A-Z Titles: Enter citation information to search for electronic articles, chapters, books, and journals that are available through the PAU Library. You can also browse our subscriptions by collection title, eBook title, and journal title. PAU login is required for downloading content but not for searching.
A-Z Databases: Search the list of databases to which the PAU Library subscribes by title or ISBN for direct access to each individual database. PAU login is required for access.
DSM-5 TR & Psychiatry Online: Search for text and multimedia sources, provided by subscription to American Psychiatric Association Publishing, including DMS-5-TR. PAU login is required for access.
Mental Measurements Yearbook & Tests in Print: Search for commercially available tools, provided by subscription, to assess a specific symptom, disorder, or characteristic. PAU login is required for access.
LibKey Nomad: LibKey Nomad is a browser plugin that will connect you to full-text available from the PAU Library, as well as from scholarly sources that provide free content online, whenever you conduct your research on the Web. To access materials from our library collections, log in using your PAU email credentials. If you hit a paywall, then the material most likely won't be freely available to you.
Google Scholar may be used to conduct a broad search of the scholarly literature. Results may include a range of materials, including articles, theses, books, abstracts, and court opinions. Content is available from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities, and other websites. Complete information for using Google Scholar for your research at PAU is provided here.
Full-text results from a Google Scholar search will display as clickable links. Occasionally, these links will go to a paywall. If paid access is available through the PAU Library, you will be able to see and click on the PAU full-text links in your Google Scholar results if you set that up in advance here. Log in using your PAU email credentials.
PubMed: PubMed is a database of more than 36 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. These citations may include links to full text content from other sources, such as PubMed Central and publisher web sites. Some of these links may also come up in a Google Scholar search; however, if a document has a PMID (PubMed Identification Number), you can very easily search it on the PubMed site to quickly locate the citation and download any free content. This strategy is particularly helpful if the citation includes a link to an author manuscript, especially when an article is needed immediately or proves difficult to locate.
ResearchGate: ResearchGate is a for-profit academic profile and social networking site designed for sharing research. It offers researchers and scientists the opportunity to post PDF copies of their articles (subject to contractual terms and conditions) for free access to the scholarly community. ResearchGate articles can oftentimes be found in a Google Scholar search, but more elusive articles can requested by contacting the author directly through the ResearchGate site. A free account is required for access.
Academia: Academia is a for-profit online platform that contracts with researchers and scientists, allowing them to share copies of their articles for online viewing by registered users. User registration requires signing up for a free account. Read-only content may be view on the platform, which can also be used for contacting authors to request their articles directly. This is a good strategy for locating hard-to-find items. While Academia does provide some free full-text content for download, and the links can sometimes be found using Google Scholar, a paid premium account is required for users who elect to receive enhanced services, including free full-text downloads. However, contacting Academia authors and following up using ILL when required makes for a cost-free option if enhanced services aren't needed.
Internet Archive: The Internet Archive is a digital library that provides free access to a wide range of materials — including books, movies, music, art, television shows, podcasts, and software — and advocates for a free and open Internet. Many older books in psychology and counseling are available through the Internet Archive as the result of extensive digitization projects. Each item is typically available for read-only access, one day at a time, with renewals offered as demand allows. The terms of use are explained in the Internet Archive record for each item. Access to the Internet Archive requires a free account
GETTING HELP: Having trouble finding what you need? Having trouble with access? You can rest assured, because the PAU librarians are here to assist you! Please email us at librarian@paloaltou.edu and provide the details so we can respond to you in the best way possible. We're happy to communicate with you about a question or concern via email, or we can set up a phone call or Zoom session if that would be helpful. No request is too big or too small, so please reach out at any time!