A number of databases and collections of electronic journals provide an alert feature whereby you can set up a search profile/strategy. These are automated current awareness services that result, depending on the type of profile or strategy, in table of contents of your chosen journals or a list of individual article citations being e-mailed directly to your e-mail box. Clearly, alert services are potentially very useful in helping one keep abreast of current developments and publications in one’s subject area(s). A particularly useful alerting service is provided by Web of Science (Science Citation Index; Social Science Citation Index; Arts & Humanities Citation Index), a database of about 8,500 very prestigious and high impact research journals.

The specific instructions for setting up alerts tend to differ from vendor to vendor; however the fundamental steps are generally quite similar. When you have accessed one of the databases or journal collections below, the requisite directions for setting up an alert may be located in an obvious place on the page or it may be necessary to search for the instructions on one of the Help pages. Please note that setting up alerts usually requires free registration. Also, it is always advisable to read the privacy policy before signing up. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Brendan Rapple (617-552-4482; rappleb@bc.edu ) or any other of the subject specialists.

IMPORTANT: Some databases and collections of journals promote document delivery services that provide you with articles for a fee (sometimes this is quite expensive). However, the article(s) sought may very well be available to you for free through BC Libraries’ subscription to the journal. Moreover, even if the article is not available at BC, it is highly probable that you may obtain a copy of the article very quickly and at no cost through BC Libraries’ Interlibrary Loan.