Finding open access literature
A wide range of e-resources that are freely available on the Internet, such as databases, journal articles, books and open access content are indexed in swisscovery and accessible to all users. This is independent of whether you use swisscovery as a member of the University of Basel, or as a private individual, and no login or account is required. Further information on freely-accessible e-resources and open access content can be found at Finding Open Access content.
1. Select the «swisscovery» search area in «swisscovery Basel», i.e. you extend your search to the whole of Switzerland.
![[Translate to English:] Suchbereich Swisscovery](https://ub-easyweb.ub.unibas.ch/fileadmin/_processed_/5/f/csm_OA_Swisscovery_Suchbereich_cdfab176a0.png?1729148718)
2. Select the «Open Access» option in the filter options in the left-hand column
![[Translate to English:] Swisscovery Filter für Open Access](https://ub-easyweb.ub.unibas.ch/fileadmin/_processed_/0/2/csm_OA_Swisscovery_Filter_d6ef521a95.png?1729148849)
3. The displayed results all have the symbol
![[Translate to English:] Swisscovery Symbol für Open-Access-Inhalte](https://ub-easyweb.ub.unibas.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/universitaetsbibliothek/Universitaetsbibliothek/2_Recherche/Datenbanken_E-Journals_E-Books/OA_Swisscovery_Symbol.png?1729148579)
Sämtliche Suchergebnisse mit diesem Symbol können auch ausserhalb des Uni-Netzes geöffnet und die zugehörigen Volltexte heruntergeladen werden.
Finding Open Access content: academic search engines
Use academic search engines and try BASE or CORE Discovery, which specialise in Open Access content.
Finding Open Access content: Basel authors
- edoc: The University of Basel’s edoc institutional repository lists all scientific publications created at the university and makes them visible worldwide and permanently accessible. edoc is operated by the University Library and enables the implementation of the University of Basel’s Open Access Policy. The contents of edoc are listed in search engines and academic search services such as Google Scholar, OpenAIRE (Horizon 2020), Unpaywall, Core or BASE.
Finding Open Access content: social networks
Open Access resources
- DBIS: Datenbank-Infosystem (List of free and licensed scientific databases. The search can be limited to free databases.) (in German)
- EZB: Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek (green traffic light = freely accessible) (in German)
- DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals
- DOAB: Directory of Open Access Books
- OpenDOAR: Directory of Open Access Repositories
- NDLTD: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
What to do, if a full-text article is not accessible?
The University Library Basel recommends the following steps: a search for the full-text article using academic search engines, a search using browser extensions for Open Access, requesting information from researchers. And of course there is always the option to order texts via Copy orders, Courier or Interlibrary loan.
If you would like to publish something as Open Access, you can find information on our Open Access pages.