Open Access: Open Access Tools
This guide brings together key resources to help you to discover open access academic publications that can be read online and used for learning, teaching and research.
These web browser plugins and online tools will make it easier for you to find Open Access resources.
Browser plugins
Why use browser plugins?
Browser tools such as plugins/extensions can save you a lot of time when searching for open access resources.
Easy to install and free, browser plugins can be found from your chosen web browser store or via the developer's website.
Once you have installed the browser plugin and attempt to view an article online, the plugin will automatically offer links to alternative free versions if available. Depending on the plugin, it may also recommend similar articles or direct you to a request service.
- CORE Discovery
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Developed by researchers, CORE Discovery uses the CORE dataset to find millions of full text papers. CORE Discovery claims to be the only plugin which can search for items with no DOI attached. If it can't find a free version, it'll recommend you some similar open access articles. - EndNote Click
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EndNote Click (formerly Kopernio) allows you to log in securely with your BCU credentials to search for both subscription and open access resources. You will need to create a free EndNote Click account on installation. - LibKey Nomad
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LibKey Nomad quickly searches open access and hybrid publications to find free versions. Select "Free Open Access Version" as your institution name in the browser extension.
The LibKey Nomad icon will appear in the bottom left of your screen if a free version of a publication is found. - GetFTR
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GetFTR (Full Text Research) is a free tool that can provide links to content on a number of websites and discovery platforms.
- Open Access Button by OA Works
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Search open access resources and create requests directly to the author of a paper if unavailable.
Once installed, you will need to click the browser extension icon when viewing a journal from the publisher's website in order to see the results of its search. - Unpaywall
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Unpaywall is an open source browser extension which searches open access content from more than 50,000 publishers and repositories. Unpaywall is integrated into BCU Library Search to widen access to articles from our discovery service.
The Unpaywall icon appears when you are on a publisher's website, on the right hand side of your screen. If the icon is green, a free version has been found. If the icon is grey, it cannot locate a free version. - EBSCOhost Passport
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EBSCOHost Passport is a browser extension which searches for subscription and open access resources hosted by EBSCO. Select Birmingham City University in the institution list. The EBSCO icon appears next to a reference if a version is found.