What Is ?

MacLinks, also known as SFX, is a service that helps users to find out whether a particular journal article, book, or other item is available here at Macalester.

One main component of the MacLinks service is that it provides a connection between most of the Library's Online Indexes and delivers information about fulltext online resource availability within these resources. MacLinks also provides links to print resource information, helps with Interlibrary Loan if a particular item is not available at Macalester, works with the RefWorks citation manager service and links to the Library's Ask Us/Help Web page.

How Does It Improve Research?

Instead of switching between databases, repeating your searches using different search engines and different search methods, MacLinks helps you to find an article citation in one database and get the full text from another in a streamlined manner.

How do I use MacLinks?

After performing a search in a database, look for the button. Please note, the MacLinks service is not available in every resource at Macalester.

If you click on the button, you'll be offered a MacLinks menu containing your further options for the item. This may include a search in CLICnet, retrieval from a fulltext database, or another of several options.

Click on the red letter "S" icon to the left of each MacLinks option to activate the menu item.

Fulltext article retrieval won't always work the same way - depending on the structure of the database you've queryied, you may receive the article directly, the journal issue, or sometimes just the search page for the database.

More Information

Go to: Ex Libris (Vendor) Information about MacLinks and SFX