Library Guides: Open Access to Journal Literature: A Guide: Strategies to Obtain Journal Articles

Association memberships

American Journal of Public Health Membership (AJPH)
Membership in the American Public Health Association (APHA) provides two years free subscription to AJPH for members/subscribers only. Older issues are available free online in PubMedCentral. Be sure to activate the online access for the subscriptions to which you are entitled.
Health Education and Behavior/Health Promotion Practice
Membership in the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) provides access to this journal. Be sure to activate the online access for the subscriptions to which you are entitled. Other related publications may be offered at discounted rates
Public Health Reports
Public Health Reports is produced by the Association of Schools of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service.

Area Health Education Centers

Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) provide continuing education based on the recent literature. Many AHECs also have libraries or resource centers.

Area Health Education Centers Directory
Contact the AHEC to determine if they can help you with your information need.

Paying for full-text journal articles

Most journals are available as either individual or institutional subscriptions. If you purchase the journal with organizational funds and intend for it to be used by multiple staff, then you should purchase an institutional subscription. Institutional subscriptions often allow you to set up online access using your organization's IP addresses so that all on the organization's network may access the publication. You may also buy individual articles on a pay per view or pay per download model.

Loansome Doc
Loansome Doc is a system developed and hosted by the National Library of Medicine for ordering Pubmed articles from health science libraries that have chosen to offer Loansome Doc service to individual users. Some Loansome Doc providers may require an agreement for document delivery service. Arrangements may be made with a health sciences library to provide specific materials you request for a pre-arranged, per-item fee. Prices may be very low, or even free, when ordering from a library mandated to serve health workers in their area.

more... less...

For details regarding Loansome Doc providers see the FAQ on finding ordering libraries (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/services/ldfind.html). The National Library of Medicine does not offer Loansome Doc service.
Using Loansome Doc
Learn how to order full-text articles through a local health sciences library.
Veterinary Information Network
Fee-based knowledge resource center for animal health and infectious diseases that includes many full text journals, conference proceedings and electronic books, as well as online expert forums for veterinarians

Libraries

Public Health Libraries
The website of the Public Health/Health Administration Section of the Medical Library Association provides links to international, U.S. government, state and local public health libraries, and to libraries from schools of public health.
National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM)
your regional medical library can help you locate any type of library of figure out what options you have to efficiently find access to the information you need. The NN/LM also provides training on how to use information resources such as PubMed.
Academic Libraries
Academic libraries generally are included in WorldCat or have their own online catalog on their website. State university or community college libraries are usually open to the public living or working within that state. Look for a community college with health training programs. Those with EMS Training Programs may have disaster preparedness journals, for example. Most libraries have print subscriptions or license electronic journals to allow on site use. Friends of the Library memberships may be available for a reasonable charge and may allow you to check out materials or receive other information services.
Law libraries
Law librarians are experts in finding legal information to support policy making and cases. Law libraries are often open to the public for legal research. Use of resources such as Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw is generally restricted, but a wealth of other information in environmental and occupational health, infectious disease control, animal control and other topics with legal components is available.
National Network of Library of Medicine (NN/LM) - Member Directory
Searchable directory of a nationwide network of health science libraries and information centers. The directory can be searched by state, type of library, and by services offered to the public including reference services, database search training, and delivery of full text journal articles.
Public Libraries
Public library subscriptions and services may include remote access to collections of full-text journals and newspaper articles. Interlibrary loan may be available at no charge or a minimal cost. Library cards are generally available to those who live or work in the jurisdiction at no charge.
State Libraries
State agency libraries may be designated to serve state public health workers. If not, they should at least be open to state residents. State libraries work with public libraries to ensure access to resources for users statewide. Find your state library.

WorldCat (FirstSearch)
- This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
See what libraries closest to you own the journal you need, just search on the title and include your zip code - one may be close enough to visit in person to print or copy the article. If not, follow the web links to the owning library to see if document delivery services are offered for a fee. Note: Most hospital libraries do not appear in Worldcat.org, so you may need to call your closest hospital library to see if they have what you need.