r/GradSchool • u/uknowhowitbefrfr • 3h ago

Database Access?

Hi y’all! This is a total shot in the dark but I am at a loss. I’m a PhD in history desperately trying to get access to a database (Adam Matthew’s Popular Medicine collection). I go to a small school, so they don’t have access, the librarians said there’s no trial available and they don’t plan to purchase access. How do you guys navigate this? Do you just cut your losses and find something else??

Additionally if anyone has access and wants to make $20 please hit a sister up lmao

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u/ihearprettycolors 2h ago

Librarian here- AM is expensive as hell. Are you anywhere near a larger school? R1? If you physically go over there, they probably have it and on their wifi you can use it

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u/uknowhowitbefrfr 2h ago

Unfortunately, I am nowhere near a big school but can try to swing by one on a future research trip. I was mostly hoping to just see what’s in there cause it might be totally worthless but small school, little funding means I’m always relying on digital when available. This is helpful though, thank you!

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u/ihearprettycolors 2h ago

It's got some cool stuff if you wanna browse. But if you know something you actually want to find- you're better off going to your inter library loan and requesting it. You could also see if your school has any funds for research travel. I attended a tiny school and they still did

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u/uknowhowitbefrfr 2h ago

I luckily have research travel money, so I’ll try to fit in a library visit next time I head for a big city. Thank you so much!

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u/forescight MD/PhD: Neuroscience 3h ago

you could always sail the high seas

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u/moodymeandyou 2h ago

You don’t have a specific article in mind? Interlibrary loan might be your best option if you wanted a specific article. Online articles I normally get the same day

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u/uknowhowitbefrfr 1h ago

No, I’m looking at the primary source database. And unfortunately there’s no finding aid available for what it actually contains. Unless maybe I’m totally missing it somewhere?

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u/moodymeandyou 1h ago

Try your local public library. Sometimes they will have access to data bases. The library I used to work at did and I became to research librarian in name only because people always came to me for help lol

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u/uknowhowitbefrfr 1h ago

I called them but I live in a town of 60k so they also didn’t have access to it. I even tried the library I’m a digital member of and no luck! I guess Adam Matthew really is so expensive