FindIt@VU: Frequently Asked Questions
What service options does FindIt@VU provide?
Why is the full text not always available?
Why is the full text option not available when I know the library has electronic access?
Can I use FindIt@VU services from off campus?
What does FindIt@VU do?
findit@VU provides direct links from a database citation to the full text of the article (if available) and other supporting resources.
How do I access FindIt@VU?
Some databases and publisher journal platforms to which the library has subscriptions are findit@ VU-enabled. Many of the records in these databases will display the findit@VU button 
. Click on the button to see a menu with links to full text and other services.
What service options does FindIt@VU provide?
Because findit@VU is context specific, service options will change from citation to citation. When available, and as appropriate, findit@VU services offered will link to one or more of the following:
- full text of the article
- the Library Catalog to see if Vanderbilt owns the item
- an Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery request form
Why is the full text not always available?
The option to link to full text is shown on the findit@VU menu when the library has subscribed to the full text of the journal title or other electronic resource. (See below for exceptions to this.) In many cases, if the findit@VU button does not direct to the full text, then the Vanderbilt Libraries do not license the full text for the particular title or the title may not be available in full text.
Why is the full text option not available when I know the library has electronic access?
Not all journal platforms and databases support the technology behind findit@VU. Occasionally the database will have a typo or error in the citation, which means findit@VU will not be able to link properly to the full text. You can Ask a Librarian if there are questions related to holdings of a specific title. In other cases, we are unable to configure a full text source to work with findit@VU or publishers block access to their most recent articles for several months after publication.
Can I use FindIt@VU services from off campus?
Yes. Start your search from the Library Catalog or a database on the AtoZ list to ensure that the findit@VU button appears in online resources. Vanderbilt users can login with a VUNet ID and password when prompted from off-campus.