• What is SFX?
• Who can use SFX?
• How do I use SFX?
• Why don't I see any SFX buttons on my search results?
• Why didn't I get a full-text link for my article? 
• How can I get full text if there is no link to it?
• Why is there more than one option for full-text for some articles?
• I clicked on "full-text", but I only got to the journal's homepage. Why?
• What do I do when I get a "bad URL" or "Error 404", or some other "not found" message?
• What databases are supported by SFX?
  
• Who do I contact for additional help about SFX?

What is SFX?

In a nutshell, SFX is a tool that helps link you to the full text of an article you are looking for. Some of our databases contain full text and others just contain citations to articles.  SFX links directly from a citation of an article to the full text of the cited article.

Who can use SFX?

Current NYU-Poly students, faculty, and staff can use SFX.  For off-campus use, you must log into the library databases using your last name and NYU-Poly ID number.

How do I use SFX?

If the database is set up to work with SFX, you will normally see a button next to the citation that looks like this: . 

Clicking on this button will open a new window, presenting a SFX menu. All services the library provides for this particular citation will be listed on the menu.  Note, we are still in the process of configuring SFX to link to Dibner Library resources so you may have to sign in using your NYU NetID to proceed to the full text article. 

You may also see an SFX button that looks like: .  This  is Bobst Library's button, and you may click it and enter your NYU NetID to follow the link to full text.

Why don't I see any SFX buttons on my search results?

The database you are searching may not yet be set up by the publisher to work with SFX. Not all of our databases are configured to work with SFX yet, but more will be added. Another reason you may not see the button is that you have not enabled javascript on your browser.

Why didn't I get a full-text link for my article?

Possible reasons include:

• An online full text version is not available through the NYU Libraries.
• SFX linking has not yet been enabled for the journal your article is in.
• Very recent articles may not yet be loaded on the publisher's web site.
• JavaScipt is not enabled. Check your browser settings.

How can I get full text if there is no link to it?

You can request an article that is not available using Dibner Library's interlibrary loan form.  Do Not use the Bobst Library interlibrary loan link.

Why is there more than one option for full-text for some articles?

There is overlap among our electronic journal collections and databases, so sometimes you will find that the full text is available from more than one source.

I clicked on "full-text", but I only got to the journal's homepage. Why?

SFX will try to get you as close as it can to the full text of the article. Often, because of the structure of the journal publisher's web site, SFX cannot link directly to full text. Sometimes the best SFX can do is to take you to the table of contents or the journal's home page, and you will have to navigate the publisher's site yourself to get to the full text.

What do I do when I get a "bad URL" or "Error 404", or some other "not found" message?

If the article you need is a very recent article from a journal, it's possible the article has not been loaded on the journal publisher's web site, so SFX cannot retrieve it. Unfortunately, you have to wait for the publisher to add it to their site. Another problem could be that our SFX links are not functioning properly yet and need to be updated. Please let us know about any problems: Ask us!

What databases are supported by SFX?

Databases that are SFX enabled are marked with the NYU-Poly icon: .

Who do I contact for additional help?

If you have questions please ask a librarian for help.