UW-Madison Libraries provides UW-Extension Cooperative Extension library services for work-related research and programming. Library resources (articles, search results, books, etc.) should not be passed on to others due to copyright and licensing restrictions.

Search UW-Madison Licensed Databases

Go to UW-Madison Libraries Home Page www.library.wisc.edu

  • Access Databases Demo OR larger font demo that needs Adobe Flash player.
  • Top middle box links to databases Find by Name or Find by Subject.
  • (optional) Use circled (i) by database name for database coverage and link to Quick Guide of search tips.
  • Click database name to open database.
  • If on campus, database will open.
  • If off campus, when pop-up window appears, type your 11 digit ID number and last name (in lower case).

OR Go to Steenbock Library Journal Databases

Get Articles

From database citation

  • Check database citation for full-text html or pdf links
  • If no Full Text link in database:
    • Click FindIt or SFX button by citation.
    • Click Full Text online link in FindIt popup window.
    • If no Full Text online link in FindIt,
      • Click MadCat to see if a campus library has a print copy of the journal. If journal owned (check holdings for volume/year):
        • go to the library to get the article. Many campus libraries have copiers that function as scanners to email pdfs directly from the copier for free.
        • OR click Library Express link in FindIt. Items are free if not on Madison campus, $2 fee if on campus and you want Library Express to send you an electronic copy.
          • Log in to Library Express (11 digit ID and last name in lower case).
          • Library Express has citation info from FindIt already.
          • Answer Do You Want this if It's Not Free?
            • Yes--put money on your WisCard for $2 convenience fee OR select a departmental/grant fund account to charge the $2 fee to
            • No--Library Express will automatically get it free for you from interlibrary loan or if it's on campus, they'll cancel your request with an email saying it's available in a campus library.
          • You will receive an email when the article is available in Library Express/View Electronically Received Articles.
          • Save article to your computer as article is deleted from Library Express in a few weeks.

If known article (from bibliography, etc)

  • Click FindIt from here or any UW-Madison Libraries page.
  • Type citation information. If you only have a Journal Title abbreviation, change Exact Match drop down to Contains and select correct journal from results.
  • Click Full Text online link in FindIt popup window.
  • If no Full Text link in FindIt:
    • Click MadCat to see if a campus library has a print copy of the journal. If journal owned (check holdings for volume/year):
      • go to the library to get the article. Many campus libraries have copiers that function as scanners to send pdfs directly from the copier for free.
    • OR click Library Express link in FindIt. Items are free if not on Madison campus, $2 fee if on campus and you want Library Express to send you an electronic copy.
      • Log in to Library Express (11 digit ID and last name in lower case)
      • Library Express has citation info from FindIt already
      • Answer Do You Want this if It's Not Free?
        • Yes--put money on your WisCard for $2 convenience fee OR select a departmental/grant fund account to charge the $2 to
        • No--Library Express will automatically get it free for you from interlibrary loan or if it's on campus, they'll cancel your request with an email saying it's available in a campus library.
      • You will receive an email when the article is available in Library Express/View Electronically Received Articles.
      • Save article to your computer as article is deleted from Library Express in a few weeks.

Get Alerts

Get Books

  • Search MadCat and use MadCat's Place Request Button / Book Retrieval to have books delivered to a library close to you for pick up.

  • In MadCat, click UW-System Search button, search and then Place Request to have a book from another UW System school delivered to a library close to you faster than interlibrary loan.
  • Search WorldCat and fill out the Library Express link to have the book delivered to a library close to you for pick up.
  • Search Google Books, then use MadCat or Library Express to get the book.
  • OR Fill out a Library Express request form.
    • If the book is not at UW-Madison, it will automatically be interlibrary loaned for you and delivered to a pickup library you designated in Library Express.
    • If the book is at UW-Madison, the request will be cancelled with an email giving you the call number and library location

Use Subject Guides

Get Help