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Library Resources for Military-Connected Students: Get the Full Text

Assistance for student veterans, reservists/guard, and their families

Google Scholar: Get the full text from NIU Libraries

Setup full text links to NIU Libraries in Google Scholar

  1. In Google Scholar, click on Settings from the menu (3 lines on the upper left-hand corner of the screen).
  2. Click on Library Links.
  3. Search for Northern Illinois University.
  4. Check off “Northern Illinois University - Check NIU for full text"
  5. Save.

Your search results will now include “Check NIU for full text” links. For more information about using NIU Libraries to access full text, see Using FIND IT to Access the Full Text.

Use "Check NIU for full text" links

  1. Click on a Check NIU for full text link in Google Scholar. This opens a new window which searches NIU Libraries for the full text of the article.

  1. Sign In to NIU Libraries with your Institutional Login using your NIU credentials.
  2. Scroll down to the View Online section for links to the full text. These links may not take you directly to a PDF. They may take you to a journal page through NIU's login where so you may have to find the specific article using citation information (i.e. year, volume, issue). If NIU Libraries doesn't have the article, submit the pre-populated Request from Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) form. NIU Libraries will send you an email with a link to the article within 2-3 business days.

Databases: Get the full text

Click Access Options in ERIC and Education Source and other EBSCO databases. You may see up to 4 options. We recommend that you choose the options in this order:

  • PDF: this should open a PDF in a new window. 
  • Online full text: This should open a PDF in a new window. 
  • Free version from ERIC: This will open a new window on the ERIC website where you should be able to download a PDF.
  • View full text: This opens a new window and searches NIU Libraries for the full text of the article. Use instructions below to access.

Instructions for View Full Text

  1. Sign In to NIU Libraries with your Institutional Login using your NIU credentials.
  2. Scroll down to the View Online section for links to the full text. These links may not take you directly to a PDF. They may take you to a journal page through NIU's login where so you may have to find the specific article using citation information (i.e. year, volume, issue). If NIU Libraries doesn't have the article, submit the pre-populated Request from Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) form. NIU Libraries will send you an email with a link to the article within 2-3 business days.

Manual Interlibrary Loan Requests

When should I submit a manual interlibrary loan request?

Use Manual interlibrary loan requests for any material that you can't get the full text of from Google Scholar, from a database, or by searching NIU Libraries for the material.

Manual interlibrary loan requests are great for:

  • articles or conference papers that you can't get the full text of from Google Scholar, a database, or from NIU Libraries website;
  • scans of book chapters or encyclopedia articles;
  • dissertations not available on ProQuest Digital Dissertations (see https://libguides.niu.edu/Education/databases).

Instructions: Submit a manual interlibrary loan request

  1. Login to My Library Account.
  2. Once logged in, click NIUILLiad under Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad).
  3. Create a New Request for the type of material you'd like and fill in the request form. Submit Request when done. Articles ordered via NIUILLiad generally take between 3 business days and 2 weeks to process and you will receive an email when the full text is available.