Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is IU-Link?

IU-Link, based on Ex Libris' SFX software, allows you to link from article citations in selected databases to full-text and other services that are available from the Indiana University-Bloomington Libraries. When you find a record in a database or periodical index, click on the IU-Link button to:

  • See if the full text of the article is available online for immediate access;
  • Check IUCAT to see if the journal or book is in the library;
  • Request delivery of an item that is not available at IU
  • Get assistance from a librarian.

2. Which databases have IU-Link buttons in them?

Check for the latest list of databases and indexes in which IU-Link is available.

3. Can I use the IU-Link service from home?

Yes, any Indiana University Bloomington student, faculty or staff member can use the IU-Link service from off-campus, via the proxy server.  When you click on an IU-Link button from off-campus, you will be automatically prompted to enter your University ID.

4. Why don't I see IU-Link buttons?

- You may be searching an index or database that does not yet support this service – see number 2 above for a list of databases that support IU-Link.

- Sometimes you need to click on the actual database record in order to see the IU-Link button. Also, if you are searching in Web of Science, be sure you let the first page fully load in your browser, or you won't see the buttons on later screens.

- Some indexes, such as Academic Search Premier, have full-text for some but not all of the references in the database. In those indexes, we enable the IU-Link button only for those items that do not include the full-text within that database.

5. Why are there multiple windows when I'm using IU-Link?

When you click on the IU-Link button, it often opens a new browser window that displays the menu of services.  Selecting a service from the menu then opens a third window.  Generally, you will not have more than three or four windows open at a time.  Remember that you can resize the windows to suit your viewing preferences. Sometimes windows are hidden behind other windows.

6. When I click on the IU-Link button, I see an error message or nothing happens. What do I do?

Check to make sure the IU-Link menu hasn’t opened in a hidden or minimized window.

If the IU-Link menu is not there, check to see if your internet browser is set to block pop-ups. Consult the browser's Help to find out how to allow a specific pop-up or how to disable the pop-up blocker when necessary. If a Google or Alta Vista toolbar to block pop-ups is installed, you will need to change the settings to allow a pop-up from the Libraries. The URL for IU-Link is libsfx.libraries.iub.edu

In Netscape 7, you can allow/enable pop-ups by clicking on "Advanced" in your Preferences window, then selecting "Scripts & Plug-ins." By checking "Open a link in a new window (requires restarting Netscape)" you allow web pop-ups through Netscape.

7. When I click to get full text, sometimes I end up on the journal's home page or table of contents. Can't I go directly to the article?

The journal publisher controls whether we are able to link directly to the article. We are asking publishers to provide direct access to their articles. In the meantime, you may have to navigate through the publisher's web site to get to the article you're looking for. Because the database record is still visible in the IU-Link window, it is easy to see what volume and issue is needed.

8. Why are there multiple links to full text?

Sometimes an article is available in more than one database, such as Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost) or ABI/INFORM, so we link to both. You can choose which version you want to access.

9. When I click to get the full text, my article isn't there. Why not?

  • Sometimes the article citation appears in a database before the publisher has made the full text available. Send a message to “report a broken link" on the IU-Link menu to have us confirm this.
  • The publisher or author withheld the full text of this article. Please let us know about any missing articles by sending a message with the "report a broken link" option on the menu. Then, search IUCAT from the IU-Link menu to see if the library has the print or microform version.

10. If there's no full text service listed in the IU-Link menu, does that mean the article isn't available online?

Not always. There is a chance that IU-Link is not aware that the full text is available online. Search IUCAT from the IU-Link menu to see if there is a link to full-text. Please use the "report a broken link" option to let us know if there is full text access that does not show up in IU-Link.

11. Sometimes the IUCAT (Library Catalog) search doesn't find anything. What should I do next?

A second search in the catalog for the title of the journal or book might find it. If searching by title doesn't find it, try "Ask a librarian".

12. Why do I have to log out of Web of Science, Ovid, and Factiva when I'm done?

Our subscriptions to these and other databases allow only a limited number of simultaneous users. If you forget to log out, one spot is tied up until the system eventually resets it, even though no one is actively searching the database. Logging out of a database makes it available immediately to other users.

Last Updated 3/9/2004