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How to Use Tarleton State University Libraries and Google Scholar for Full Text Access

How to Use Tarleton State University Libraries and Google Scholar for Full Text Access


Access to full-text research articles is essential for assignments, literature reviews, and professional studies. Students and staff at Tarleton State University have several options for finding scholarly materials, including direct access through the Tarleton Libraries and open-access options available through Google Scholar.

This guide explains how to search, locate, and access full-text academic materials through both systems. It focuses on practical steps that save time and help you retrieve the most reliable results.


1. Understanding Your Access Rights as a Tarleton Student

As a Tarleton State University student, faculty, or staff member, you have access to digital databases, journals, and ebooks provided by the Tarleton Libraries. These resources are available both on campus and remotely through your myGateway login.

Tarleton Libraries subscribe to major databases such as:

  • CINAHL and MEDLINE for health sciences

  • JSTOR and EBSCOhost Academic Search Complete for multidisciplinary topics

  • ScienceDirect for science and technology

  • ERIC and Education Source for education research

  • PsycINFO for psychology and counseling

  • Business Source Complete for business and economics

All these databases provide links to Full Text PDFs or to Full Text Finder, which connects you to the article through the library’s subscription or interlibrary loan.


2. Accessing Tarleton State University Libraries Online

You can start your research from the main library page.

Steps:

  1. Visit the official site: library.tarleton.edu.

  2. Click Research Databases or Find Articles and Journals.

  3. Log in with your Tarleton network ID if prompted.

  4. Choose your preferred database, for example, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, or ScienceDirect.

  5. Enter your search keywords.

If the full text is available through Tarleton’s subscriptions, you will see a PDF Full Text or HTML Full Text link next to the article title.


3. Using the Library Search Box (OneSearch)

Tarleton Libraries provide a unified search tool called OneSearch. It searches across most library databases at once.

Steps to Use OneSearch:

  1. Go to library.tarleton.edu.

  2. In the main search bar, type your keywords, such as telehealth nursing education.

  3. Click Search.

  4. On the left panel, use filters like:

    • Full Text Online

    • Peer Reviewed

    • Date Range

  5. Review the results and click the Full Text Available or View Online link.

OneSearch automatically connects you to the database that hosts the full article.


4. Accessing Databases by Subject

If you know your field, Tarleton Libraries organize databases by subject area.

Example:

  • Nursing and Health Sciences: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, Health Source Nursing/Academic Edition

  • Education: ERIC, Education Source, Teacher Reference Center

  • Business: Business Source Complete, ABI/INFORM Collection

  • Social Sciences: PsycINFO, Sociology Source Ultimate

To find these:

  1. Select Databases by Subject from the library homepage.

  2. Choose your discipline.

  3. Click on the database link.

  4. Search for your topic using keywords or subject terms.

This helps you avoid irrelevant results and focus on discipline-specific literature.


5. Using Full Text Finder and Interlibrary Loan

If you find an article but the full text is not immediately available, use Full Text Finder.

Steps:

  1. Click the Find Full Text or Full Text Finder link under the article title.

  2. The system checks if another Tarleton database provides access.

  3. If available, click the link to go to the full article.

  4. If not, choose Request through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

Through ILL, you can request a copy from another library. The article is usually delivered to your Tarleton email within a few days as a PDF.


6. Using Google Scholar for Full Text Access

Google Scholar is another reliable way to access full-text articles, especially when paired with Tarleton’s library access.

Step 1: Access Google Scholar

Go to scholar.google.com.
Use the search bar to type keywords, author names, or article titles.

Step 2: Link Google Scholar to Tarleton Libraries

To make the most of your search, link Google Scholar to Tarleton’s library subscriptions.

  1. Click the Menu (three lines) icon at the top left.

  2. Select Settings.

  3. Click Library Links.

  4. In the search box, type Tarleton State University.

  5. Check the box next to Tarleton State University – Full Text Finder.

  6. Click Save.

Once linked, you will see Full Text Finder @ Tarleton or View at Tarleton next to search results that are available through the university library.


7. Searching Effectively in Google Scholar

To find the most relevant results, use specific search techniques.

Tips:

  • Use quotation marks for exact phrases: “patient safety training”.

  • Use AND to combine terms: telehealth AND nursing education.

  • Use OR for synonyms: nurses OR healthcare professionals.

  • Use intitle: to find words in titles only, for example intitle:infection control.

  • Sort results by Date to find recent studies.

When you see links such as [PDF] from tarleton.edu or [HTML] from publisher, those lead to full-text copies.


8. Accessing PDFs through Google Scholar

When you find a result, look to the right side of the search listing.

  • If a [PDF] or [HTML] link appears, you can click it to open the full text directly.

  • If only the article title is clickable without a PDF link, click it to open the publisher page.

  • If the page asks for payment, return to Google Scholar and look for the Full Text Finder @ Tarleton link instead.

If you linked your library correctly, clicking that link will take you to Tarleton’s system for full access.


9. Combining Tarleton Library Access with Google Scholar

Using both systems together gives you the best results. Tarleton’s library subscriptions ensure you have access to paid journals, while Google Scholar finds open-access and repository versions.

Example:

Suppose you need an article titled “Clinical outcomes of virtual nursing education.”

  1. Search the title in Google Scholar.

  2. If you see Full Text Finder @ Tarleton, click it to access the library’s version.

  3. If not, look for a free version labeled [PDF] from researchgate.net or [HTML] from journal site.

  4. If no full text appears, copy the title and paste it into Tarleton’s OneSearch to check access.

This process ensures you do not miss any version of the article.


10. Using Tarleton’s Off-Campus Access

When you are not on campus, you can still reach all databases using remote access.

Steps:

  1. Go to library.tarleton.edu.

  2. Click Off-Campus Access or any database link.

  3. Log in using your myGateway credentials (same as your university email).

  4. Once logged in, you will have full access to all digital materials.

Your session remains active for a few hours. Always log out after finishing, especially on public computers.


11. Setting Up Alerts and Saved Searches

Both Tarleton’s EBSCOhost databases and Google Scholar allow you to set up alerts when new articles match your topic.

On EBSCOhost:

  1. Perform your search in a database like CINAHL.

  2. Click Share → Create Alert.

  3. Log into your EBSCOhost account.

  4. Choose delivery frequency (weekly or monthly).

On Google Scholar:

  1. Click the Envelope icon below the search bar.

  2. Enter your email address.

  3. Google Scholar will send notifications when new papers appear that match your search.

Alerts save you time and help you stay updated on new publications.


12. Finding Open Access Versions of Articles

Sometimes, even with library access, an article might not be available due to publisher restrictions. In that case, look for open-access versions.

Ways to Find Them:

  • Use Google Scholar’s [PDF] links on the right side of results.

  • Visit the author’s institutional repository, often linked below the article.

  • Use Unpaywall or Open Access Button browser extensions, which locate free versions legally.

Tarleton Libraries also support open access resources, including Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and PubMed Central, both accessible from the library website.


13. Contacting Tarleton Librarians for Help

If you face problems accessing full-text articles, Tarleton’s library staff can assist through chat, email, or phone.

Contact Options:

  • Live Chat: Available on the library homepage.

  • Email: library@tarleton.edu

  • Phone: 254-968-9249

  • In-Person Help: At the Dick Smith Library (Stephenville) or regional center libraries.

Librarians can guide you in database selection, search strategies, and citation tools.


14. Using Citation Tools and Reference Management

Once you access full-text materials, save and organize them correctly for your assignments.

Most Tarleton databases, including EBSCOhost and ProQuest, have built-in citation tools.

To Generate Citations:

  1. Open the article record.

  2. Click Cite.

  3. Choose APA, MLA, or Chicago style.

  4. Copy the citation and paste it into your reference list.

You can also export references to Zotero, EndNote, or RefWorks for long-term organization.


15. Troubleshooting Full Text Access Issues

If you face issues like broken links or paywalls, follow these steps:

  1. Verify that you are logged into Tarleton’s network through myGateway.

  2. Try opening the article through OneSearch instead of directly from Google Scholar.

  3. Clear your browser cache and reload.

  4. If still unavailable, use the Interlibrary Loan Request link.

In most cases, the library can provide a PDF copy within a few business days.


16. Practical Example

Suppose you are researching “telehealth adoption among rural nurses.”

  1. Start on Google Scholar and search the phrase in quotes.

  2. Review the results. If you see Full Text Finder @ Tarleton, click it.

  3. If unavailable, copy the article title and search in Tarleton OneSearch.

  4. Apply the Full Text Online filter.

  5. Download the PDF from the linked database.

  6. If no access, use Interlibrary Loan to request it.

This approach ensures you always reach a legal, full-text copy, either through Tarleton’s subscriptions or open-access alternatives.


17. Why Combine Tarleton Libraries and Google Scholar

Using both platforms maximizes your research coverage.

  • Tarleton Libraries provide subscription-only content.

  • Google Scholar expands your reach to freely available resources and author-posted versions.

Together, they form a complete access strategy for students and faculty who need academic materials for study or research.


18. Summary

To find full-text academic materials efficiently:

  1. Use Tarleton Libraries’ OneSearch for institutional access.

  2. Link Google Scholar to Tarleton State University – Full Text Finder.

  3. Combine search techniques with keywords, filters, and alerts.

  4. Request unavailable materials through Interlibrary Loan.

  5. Use open-access tools for extra availability.

  6. Contact librarians whenever you need assistance.

Following these steps ensures that you make full use of Tarleton’s resources and Google’s open-access content for any academic or professional research project.

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