Journals & Athens

Kit Hui takes another virtual stroll round the internet on a quest to find the best free journals and resources for biomedical scientists. First, he takes a look at accessing the Athens system.

The best way to access full text journals on the net is to use Athens Access Management System (AMS) to web-based subscription services via the computer in the library of your institution, e.g., hospital, college or medical school. Post-graduate Education Centres or libraries should be offering services to full text journals while all trusts should also offer this as part of Continuing Professional Development and Personal Developments Plans, Agenda for Change and the Knowledge and Skills Framework.

NHS Athens account

If you don't have an Athens Account and you work in the NHS you can set-up an NHS Athens account online at the National Electronic Library for Health if you register from an NHS net computer. You can do this at your NHS place of work or local NHS library. If you have to register from a non-NHS net computer your application will be delayed by up to 15 working days will your eligibility will have to be individually verified at your place of work.

Private sector

Private sector companies are supposed to set up their own individual agreements with Athens.

If you are in London, you may be able to register with the Wellcome Library where you can access a lot of electronic resources, including temporary access of Ovid.

Athens passwords

There are two types of Athens passwords - one is so-called 'Academic' which is automatically assigned to all students attending higher education, which gives access to thousands of journals from Ingenta, Ingenta Select, Ovid, CatchWords etc which are the core of the Bath Information Data System (BIDS). Furthermore, it can access other influential databases like Cohrane Library. It is also issued to selected scientist working in academic institutions (not only in UK).

The second type is the 'NHS type', which is assigned to all NHS workers to enable the access to some databases of medical and scientific journals. You can apply via your librarian, organisation or the net (see above link).

The 'NHS type' breaks down into two subclasses - the first is for all healthcare workers in the country, again this is via the National Electronic Library for Health. Health workers in London can also visit use Knowledge Access 24 hours (KA24) at http://www.hilo.nhs.uk. KA24 gives anyone working for or with the NHS in London and South-East England access to full text journals and major healthcare databases from any Internet or NHSnet terminal, whether at home, clinic, workplace, library or an internet cafe.

There do seem to be differences between these two subclasses, with KA24 one can access hundreds of journals but the other one allows more limited access.

Your Athens

You can test your Athens account or access your organisation's electronic resources using your Athens username and password at MyAthens. Please note that the password is case sensitive. Visit http://www.athensams.net/myathens

Free journal websites: the big three

There are three major sites with listings of free journals.

HighWire Press (registration free)
http://highwire.stanford.edu

This site is one of the largest databases online and is regularly updated. If you press any 'free site' or 'free issue' link, then a window will open with lists of journals which are free, especially after 6 months after the date of initial publication. The only drawback of this site is it's predominately in favour of American publications and to those hosted by it.

Free Medical Journals (no registration required)
http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/htm/index.htm
Free Medical Journals lists impact factors, so you know the value of each journal. It also lists non-English journals.

BioMed Central (registration free)
http://www.biomedcentral.com
BioMed Central is run by the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) with the aim of open information for all with the backing of the American Government.

Other journals

New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
http://content.nejm.org
NEJM publishes for free any review articles more than 6 months old are free to those who have registered (which is also free). They also offer e-image and \'early release\' services via email alerts and mailing list subscriptions.

Professional bodies

Publications from some professional bodies are free to all, one example is the American Society of Hematology. A list I have compiled over the years can be found at in the 'Kit’s link page' at biomedscience.co.uk. Even though some are out-dated it is still handy and also provides links of free scientific and medical images.

Amedeo
http://amedeo.com
Amedeo provides free ebooks on topics such as management of HIV, and it is worthwhile to register with the site (registration is free).

For the most updated information, I am now taking advantages of other people's hard work. The following are links of three teaching hospitals. They give you an idea if Athens password (usually Academic type) is required or free.

UCL e-journal list
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/ejournal/eja.php

KCL e-journal list
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/iss/library/journals/

Article written in June 2005.

Tags: Media and publications

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