FAQ – Databases and E-Journals
How do I find electronic books (e-books)?
How do I find electronic journals (e-journals)?
Which databases does the Zentralbibliothek offer?
I cannot open an electronic book, electronic journal or database!
How do I search in subject databases? Are there courses?
What is SFX?
How do I find electronic books (e-books)?
Our digital books are listed in the Rechercheportal or can be searched in the separate Milibib catalogue. The same rules as for databases and e-journals apply for access to full-text versions: full-text versions can be accessed from the workspaces in our Catalogue and Reading Rooms, but only students and employees of the University of Zurich can access them from home.
How do I find electronic journals (e-journals)?
The Zentralbibliothek and the University of Zurich provide the full texts of around 50,000 electronic journals. Many electronic journals are listed in the Rechercheportal.
The Electronic Journals Library (EZB) offers a quick overview of all the journals on offer. The journals in the EZB include only academic journals for all subjects and does not include popular journals and magazines. Access authorisation to full-text versions is indicated with dots of different colours. A green dot means the e-journal is freely accessible via the internet. A yellow dot means the journal is licensed and can only be accessed from the Zentralbibliothek and the University of Zurich. A red dot means no access (although the tables of contents and some of the abstracts can be viewed).
Please note that you can search the EZB for journal titles but not for individual articles. Individual journal articles can be found in the relevant Subject Databases.
Which databases does the Zentralbibliothek offer?
A list of databases by subject can be found under Subjects. An alphabetical list of all databases can be found under Database network.
I cannot open an electronic book, electronic journal or database!
Licensed products for which the Zentralbibliothek and the University of Zurich pay licence fees can be used by public users (people not associated with the University) inside the ZB or Zurich University only. The Zentralbibliothek therefore offers research computers in the Catalogue Room that are available from 8:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays.
Persons associated with the University of Zurich have a UniAccess account allowing them to download VPN software to use a proxy server or EZProxy. With VPN Client, a proxy server or EZProxy you have external access to the licensed products (Subject Databases, electronic journals and books) of the University of Zurich and the Zentralbibliothek. Information and installation instructions for PCs, laptops and mobile phones for VPN, Proxy, EZProxy can be found on the University of Zurich IT Services website.
How do I search in subject databases? Are there courses?
Subject databases have different search interfaces depending on the publisher. The Zentralbibiothek therefore offers regular courses (workshops) on databases, electronic journals and electronic books in different subject areas. More information on the workshops is available in German language.
What is SFX?
A literature search in the (subject) databases usually delivers a list of hits with literature references. Whilst this tells you that the literature is available, you still have to find it. The SFX link service is a help programme that shows you the fastest way from a literary reference to the document.
You can call up the SFX menu via the SFX button in the (subject) databases. The menu shows if you have access to the full text of the document or if a paper copy is available in an IDS library.
If no full-text document is shown, a form to order a photocopy can be called up, but this applies only to journal articles.