Notes on usage

Our e-resources are accessible to all FHNW members within the FHNW network.

For access outside the FHNW network, you need to install Cisco Anyconnect VPN. Instructions and further information can be found on Inside FHNW.

Access issues

In the event of issues with your access, follow this checklist:

Is the publication licensed by the FHNW?

You only have access to e-resources that have been licensed by the FHNW Library. You can search for accessible e-resources in swisscovery. Use the search scope "FHNW" and the filter "Show only: Available online". If the publication is not licensed by FHNW, you are welcome to submit an acquisition proposal.

Are you connected to the FHNW network?

Connect to the FHNW network via cable or WLAN ("eduroam" or "fhnw-private"). Please note: If you are in the "fhnw-public" network, you will not have access to e-resources licensed by the FHNW Library. If you are outside the FHNW campus, you can connect to the FHNW network using VPN.

Are there any access restrictions / usage requirements?

The terms of use for e-resources vary depending on the provider. Some publishers allow the full download of a title, while others only allow use on page-by-page basis or with a time limit. Certain titles or databases are also limited to a certain number of simultaneous users.
Some journals are subject to an embargo, i.e. the latest issues are not accessible. You can see which issues of an e-journal are accessible in swisscovery in the item view under "View Online / Full text availability".

Is access still not working?

Please contact your local FHNW library or send an e-mail to emedien@fhnw.ch.

Legal notice

Please note the following legal information:

Licensed e-resources are intended for personal use and for use in the context of research and teaching only. Any commercial use is prohibited.
The full texts (PDFs) may not be passed on to third parties either electronically or in printed form or made accessible to third parties on the internet.
Third parties also includes external platforms, in particular ChatGPT, DeepL or other AI platforms on which the storage and future use is determined by the third parties.
It is usually not permitted to upload content (PDFs, etc.) from e-resources to reference lists such as Moodle. This also applies to password-protected areas. Direct links to e-journals, e-books, articles and book chapters are permitted.
The use of e-resources or individual parts thereof in combination with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is in many cases contractually prohibited. Please direct inquiries to emedien@fhnw.ch.
Systematic downloading of full texts or search results - also for the purpose of text and data mining - is often prohibited or requires an interface (API), which is sometimes subject to a fee. Please direct any inquiries in this regard to emedien@fhnw.ch.
Passwords and other access data are confidential and may not be passed on to third parties.
The copyright lies with the publisher or the authors of the respective article.
Please observe the copyright provisions of the publishers on their websites (e.g. under Terms & Conditions).

Violations of the terms of use may have legal ramifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find e-resources in swisscovery?

To ensure that you only find e-resources that you can use within the FHNW network, use the search scopes "FHNW" and "Articles and more" and filter your search results according to "Show only: Online". To search specifically for e-books or e-journals, also restrict your search results using the filter "Resource Type".
In addition, swisscovery has a journal search function that you can use to search specifically for journal titles or ISSNs.

The BrowZine digital journal repository is ideal for browsing and discovering e-journals by subject area.

Which programs can I use to access and read e-resources?

This depends on the file format and access protections:

PDFs without copy protection can be used on all common devices, all you need is a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader.
EPUB without copy protection require an e-reader software, for example Adobe Digital Editions or the readers from Pocketbook or Tolino devices.
PDF / EPUB with copy protection can only be used with Adobe Digital Editions , Ebook Central Reader App or devices that can be authorized with an Adobe ID.

How do I go from the citation of an article in a journal to the full text?

Search for the journal article in swisscovery.
If you cannot find the article in swisscovery, search for the title of the journal and check whether access to the desired issue is possible. If so, the link in the item view will take you to the journal's website, where you can search for and download the relevant article.
If you cannot access the article via swisscovery, you can search for it using a search engine such as Google or BASE - you may be able to find a freely accessible version.
If you were not successful with the search engine, check whether you can order a copy from a library that physically holds the journal you are looking for.
Contact your local FHNW library, which will be happy to check other options for you.

I'm having difficulties finding relevant information in a database. Who can help?

For more in-depth advice or training, please contact your local FHNW library and make an appointment. The staff will be happy to answer your questions during opening hours.

How do I go from a database to a full text?

In some databases, the full text can be displayed and downloaded directly. In bibliographic databases, only the abstract is visible. In this case, you can check whether you have access to the electronic or printed version of the article within the FHNW network by clicking on the yellow "Check Full Text" button.