Often, students and researchers require textual support from beyond the libraries they visit. Due to less time at hand, the Internet comes in use for providing valuable academic journals and research articles. Below is a list of websites that can be used for academic help in the online world:
1. Google Scholar
An online database that displays results from different sources: theses, books, abstracts, academic publications, etc.
2. AcademicJournals.org
It is a “broad-based publisher of peer-reviewed open access journals”. Started in 2002, the website houses 111 (and counting) journals from all fields of study.
3. Library Genesis
A website designated for providing free access to books, journals, and articles that may not be available elsewhere. The documents are provided in PDF format and can be downloaded by any user as it does not require registration.
4. JStor
Yet another digital library, this website provides issues of journals, books, and other primary resources. Launched in 1995, it allows access through subscription, either through an academic institution or even individually. JStor allows members to either save documents in the ‘Shelf’ (only three in 14 days) or download (which is chargeable). Recently, the website has provided a third option of creating a ‘List’ where books, journals, etc. can be saved (but not opened) till it can be shifted to the user’s ‘Shelf’.
5. Project MUSE
Founded as a “non-profit collaboration between libraries and publishers”, this website gives access to full-text versions of journals and books. Users must be affiliated with subscribed institution or library to log in.
6. Academia.edu
It allows users to publish and follow research papers. It is a closed website and requires registration. You can also request authors to share their work.
7. Indian Journals
It is an online collection of interdisciplinary Indian journals and publications. A simple registration is all that is necessary for easy access.
8. SAGE Journals
The online database allows hassle-free access to journals from diverse academic fields in the form of PDF files. Unlike a few other websites, SAGE Journals does not ask users to register themselves. It provides different options for the scholar, who can either go for ‘Full Text, ‘PDF’ or just the ‘Abstract’.
9. Google Books
Allows web users to browse through thousands of books online, to find pages that have the search words used by the researcher. It allows them to go through selected pages and provides information for obtaining hard copies.
10. Microsoft Academic Search
A semi-restricted database that allows users to browse through 38 million publications. It also facilitates search by providing a ‘query suggestion’ option, wherein results related to the keywords are shown for further reference. However, access to every result is not possible, and availability is indicated either by a green tick mark or a brown lock.
Be it a college assignment or scholarly work, there is significant pressure to be textually and theoretically accurate – these websites (among others) make academic writing an exciting experience, for it serves the users text-based resources on a platter, as and when required. While research work conducted within libraries cannot be substituted with online searches, these websites certainly make it easier for students, scholars, and researchers to broaden and strengthen their argument.