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How to Use Carleton University’s MacOdrum Library and Google Scholar for Full-Text Access

How to Use Carleton University’s MacOdrum Library and Google Scholar for Full-Text Access


Carleton University’s MacOdrum Library provides students, faculty, and staff with extensive online resources for academic research. These include access to databases, journal subscriptions, e-books, and open access collections. Many people begin their research on Google or Google Scholar, but often encounter paywalls when trying to read full-text articles.

If you are part of the Carleton University community, you can connect your Google Scholar account to MacOdrum Library. This connection allows you to see links to full-text articles provided by the library, even when you search from Google.

This guide explains step-by-step how to find full-text academic content through Google and how to link your searches to the MacOdrum Library system for seamless access.


1. Understanding the MacOdrum Library’s Online Access

Carleton University’s MacOdrum Library offers online access to thousands of electronic journals, books, and research databases. These include resources from major academic publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Taylor & Francis, JSTOR, and EBSCO.

You can access them in two main ways:

  1. Directly through the library website.

  2. Indirectly through Google Scholar once you connect your Carleton University credentials.

When you use your library login, the system recognizes you as an authorized Carleton user and gives you access to the full text of materials that the university subscribes to.


2. Why Use Google Scholar with MacOdrum Library

Google Scholar is an easy starting point for academic searches, but it doesn’t provide full access to most subscription-based articles. Many results lead to publisher pages where you see a “Buy PDF” or “Access via Institution” button.

By linking Google Scholar to MacOdrum Library, you allow Google to recognize your Carleton University affiliation. Once this is set up, you will see links like “Full-Text @ CarletonU Library” next to search results. Clicking those links takes you straight to the full-text article if the library subscribes to it.

This connection saves time, especially when you start your research outside the library’s website.


3. How to Access MacOdrum Library Online

You can reach the library from anywhere through its website:

URL: https://library.carleton.ca

Once there, you can:

  • Search the Catalogue for books, articles, and databases.

  • Access Research Databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, JSTOR, or Web of Science.

  • Use Off-Campus Access to log in through the university’s proxy server or single sign-on.

  • Find Research Guides for your subject area.

You’ll need your MyCarletonOne username and password for authentication. Once logged in, you have access to everything the library subscribes to, including full-text journals.


4. Setting Up Google Scholar to Access Full Text via Carleton University

Follow these steps to connect your Google Scholar account to the MacOdrum Library:

Step 1: Go to Google Scholar

Visit https://scholar.google.com in your browser.

Step 2: Open Settings

Click the three-line menu (☰) in the top left corner.
Select Settings from the menu.

Step 3: Select Library Links

In the Settings menu, click Library Links.

Step 4: Search for Carleton University

Type Carleton University in the search box.
Check the box next to Carleton University – Full-Text @ CarletonU Library.

Step 5: Save Your Settings

Click Save at the bottom of the screen.

Step 6: Confirm the Connection

Now, when you perform a search on Google Scholar, you will see Full-Text @ CarletonU Library links on the right side of results.

Clicking these links will redirect you through Carleton’s proxy login page (if you are off campus), and then to the full-text article on the publisher’s site.


5. How the Library Proxy Works

When you access an article using the Full-Text @ CarletonU Library link, you may be asked to log in. The library uses a proxy server to authenticate your identity as a Carleton University user.

To Log In:

  1. Enter your MyCarletonOne username and password.

  2. After login, the system forwards you to the full-text article.

Once logged in, you remain authenticated for that browsing session, so you can access multiple resources without re-entering your credentials.


6. Accessing Full Text Directly from Google

Sometimes you can find full-text PDFs directly from Google results, even without using Google Scholar.

Here’s how to check:

  1. Go to Google.com and enter your search terms with “filetype:pdf”.
    Example: hand hygiene education site:carleton.ca filetype:pdf

  2. This limits results to PDFs from Carleton’s domain.

  3. Many professors upload open-access papers, lecture materials, or preprints.

While this approach doesn’t always provide peer-reviewed articles, it’s a good way to locate course materials, reports, or institutional publications.


7. Using the Library’s “Find Full Text” Feature

If you locate an article in Google or Google Scholar that doesn’t have a Carleton link, you can still try to access it through the MacOdrum Library’s Find Full Text feature.

Steps:

  1. Go to https://library.carleton.ca.

  2. Use the “Journal Search” tool to search for the journal title.

  3. Enter the journal name exactly as shown in the article citation.

  4. If Carleton subscribes, you’ll see a list of databases that provide access.

  5. Click through to the correct volume and issue to find your article.

If the library doesn’t hold that journal, you can use the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service to request a copy from another university.


8. Using the Library Catalogue for Articles and E-Books

The MacOdrum Library Catalogue combines books, e-books, and journal articles in one search system.

To Search:

  1. Visit the library homepage.

  2. Type your keywords in the main search box.

  3. Filter your results by Full Text Online or Peer-Reviewed Journals.

  4. Select an article title to view availability and access options.

You will see buttons like Full Text Online, Download PDF, or View Article. Clicking these links will lead you to the article through the library’s subscribed databases.


9. Using the Library’s Database List

MacOdrum Library organizes its electronic resources by subject. You can explore them from the Databases by Subject page.

For example:

  • Nursing and Allied Health: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed

  • Engineering: IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect

  • Social Sciences: JSTOR, PsycINFO

  • Business: ABI/INFORM, Business Source Complete

When you access these databases through the library’s links, you are automatically authenticated and have access to all full-text content included in Carleton’s subscriptions.


10. Finding Open Access Versions Through Google

If an article is behind a paywall and Carleton doesn’t have a subscription, try finding a free version through Google or Google Scholar.

Tips:

  • Look for links labeled [PDF] from university.edu or [HTML] from repository.org.

  • Use the “All Versions” link under a Google Scholar result to check for a free copy.

  • Visit the author’s institutional repository or personal webpage.

Many researchers upload accepted versions of their papers to repositories such as:

  • Carleton University’s CURVE (Carleton University Research Virtual Environment)

  • PubMed Central (for biomedical studies)

  • arXiv (for science and engineering)

  • SSRN (for social sciences)

These repositories legally host preprints or accepted manuscripts for public access.


11. Using Off-Campus Access Tools

If you often start your research from Google or a publisher’s website, install Carleton’s Off-Campus Access Bookmarklet.

How It Works:

  1. Visit the Off-Campus Access page on the library website.

  2. Drag the Carleton Proxy Bookmarklet to your browser’s bookmarks bar.

  3. When you land on a paywalled article, click the bookmarklet.

  4. The tool reloads the page through Carleton’s proxy server.

  5. If the library subscribes, the article will open in full text.

This simple tool connects you to the library’s access system without needing to go back to the main website.


12. Using My Account to Manage Access

Your My Account page on the MacOdrum Library website lets you track loans, renew books, and manage interlibrary loan requests.

To log in:

  1. Click My Account at the top right of the library homepage.

  2. Use your MyCarletonOne credentials.

  3. Access your borrowing record or saved searches.

If you often request materials not held by Carleton, you can monitor your ILL requests here.


13. Troubleshooting Access Problems

Sometimes you may still encounter paywalls or broken links even after setting up everything correctly.

Here’s how to fix common issues:

1. Verify You’re Logged In

If you are off-campus, ensure you’re signed in through the proxy login or single sign-on page.

2. Clear Browser Cache

Old session cookies may block access. Log out, clear your browser cache, and log in again.

3. Try Another Browser

Access issues may appear in one browser. Use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

4. Contact Library Support

If the problem persists, email library@carleton.ca or use the Chat with a Librarian feature on the website. Provide the article citation and the URL where you encountered the issue.


14. Using Citation Tools and Exports

When you access full-text articles through MacOdrum Library or Google Scholar, you can export citations to reference managers like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley.

In Google Scholar:

  • Click the quotation mark icon (“Cite”) under each result.

  • Choose APA, MLA, or Chicago style.

  • Select “Import into EndNote” or “Import into BibTeX” for reference managers.

In MacOdrum Library Databases:

Most databases provide an Export or Cite tool to download formatted citations or save them to your reference software.

This saves time when building bibliographies for essays or research papers.


15. Benefits of Connecting Google and MacOdrum Library

Using Google Scholar and MacOdrum Library together provides several key advantages:

  • Direct access to thousands of subscription-based journals.

  • Easy off-campus authentication.

  • Ability to discover both open access and paywalled materials.

  • Access to Carleton’s proxy links directly from Google results.

  • More efficient literature searches combining Google’s reach with library resources.

For students and researchers, this method simplifies the workflow and ensures reliable access to academic materials.


16. Summary

If you start your research on Google or Google Scholar, you don’t need to stop at paywalls. Connecting your searches to Carleton University’s MacOdrum Library gives you full-text access to thousands of scholarly journals.

The key steps are:

  1. Go to Google Scholar Settings.

  2. Add Carleton University – Full-Text @ CarletonU Library under Library Links.

  3. Save the settings and sign in when prompted.

  4. Use Find Full Text or the library catalogue for missing items.

  5. Install the Off-Campus Access Bookmarklet for easy proxy login.

With these tools, you can access high-quality research materials from anywhere, whether you are on campus or working remotely.

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