Understanding Full Text Information

What is full text?

Full text means that the actual content of articles, statistics, book chapters, business information, etc. is available online.

What is not full text?

Many web-based library databases and indexes help you find out about information, but they do not include the actual information online. They often find citations (just enough information to find articles elsewhere) and/or abstracts (short descriptions of articles).

Where can I find full text?

The library web site contains numerous links to databases including the Subject Resources pages and the complete Database List. Many of these databases include full text, many do not. Look for database descriptions that include the open book icon, which denotes full text.

I searched one of the full text databases and found some articles, but not all articles were available online.

Very few full text resources have everything online. They usually include some full text and some citations/abstracts only.

That's where GetTeXt comes in. If an article does not seem to be obviously full text, click the orange GetTeXt button. It will lead you to more options for locating the full text of the article.

More information on how to get full text. (pdf)

Can I find the full text of research articles?

Yes, but fewer research articles are available than popular articles.

What else is considered full text, other than articles?

Some databases provide pieces of information that are considered to be full text. For example, a database that finds you addresses and phone numbers of businesses would be considered full text. An online encyclopedia would also be considered full text.

Can I print full text articles?

Yes, if you can see it on the screen, you can print it. Look for a print icon or button in the database and use it instead of using your web browser’s print button. This way the article will be better formatted for printing.

Can I get to full text from home?

Yes. Almost all library databases are available from home. You’ll need your UW-L email username and password to log on. Complete instructions can be found at the library home page or here: Off Campus Access Instructions.