paper = not yours
Figure out that I am lacking a key reference paper for the stuff I’m writing about now.
Google Scholar and sundry other resources point me towards to the paper.
Determine that I need some special access to get the paper. (University has to have IEEE access, right?)
Try to figure out my (infrequently required) username/password. Fail. University server locks my n00b ass out.
Call university support. I’m told my password needs changing, but it cannot be done over the phone. A personal visit is required.
Grumble about leaving the comfort and shelter of my desk, saunter outside. (in daylight hours! omg. But supermarket has offers on ridge cut random meat flavours crisps and double/triple packs of Bounty/Snickers/Mars. Semi-win.)
Have password reset. I can has login nao? Yes, yes I can.
Head back to the comfort and safety of desk, armed with crisps and chocs.
Login to university account. Figure out account details for IEEE.
Rub hands delightedly, count instances of Gallus domesticus before their emergence and otherwise tempt the cruel gawds.
Visit IEEE, prepare to wield hammer of “download to disk” on the paper’s PDF ass.
You can no has paper for download. Not yours.
WTF?. I have access, damn you. You’re telling me I’m from the University. What’s the problem?
Your subscription type only allows download of full-text papers from 1998 onwards. Aaargh.
Some Mondays, you just wonder why the hell you even bother.
On 04-Sep-07 at 1:52 pm,
Darwin wrote:
Gah I know exactly what you mean. I HATE access issues for papers, nothing drives me to swearing/shaking fist at screen faster than that. Does your library have the actual paper-copy maybe? Worth a try if you really really need it…
On 04-Sep-07 at 2:09 pm,
drac wrote:
Heh. Yes, the library has everything I need and then some… It was the whole “don’t want to leave the comforting coccoon of my desk” thing at work there.
That and all my references are electronic. Paper gets messy.
Actually, it was much easier to walk to the library, wave my magic card of postgraduate student and have them find the paper for me to photocopy - but I took the long way around.