What is INCDocs and what is included in it?
INCDocs is a tool for library staff to source e-journal articles from other NHS libraries. INCDocs stands for INC scheme Document supply tool. The tool uses LibKey technology and has been created for us by Third Iron. It went live on 9 May 2023.
It is a single database of e-journal holdings held in all NHS libraries in England. Library staff can search by DOI or PMID for e-journal articles. The tool will display a link to the item if the library subscribes, whether locally or nationally, or if it's open access. If not, it displays a potential supplying library which can be anywhere in the country.
It will generate a request email to the potential supplying library including any local reference number you input. The supplying library receive a link to click to either download the article from within the tool or decline within the tool where required.
It is not available to end users.
Analytics are available and reports on lookups and requests will be sent to partipating organisations each month. See How do my INCDocs reports work? for more information.
The database is based on the e-journal holdings in each instance of the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub. Maintaining your holdings ensures that the number of incorrectly sent requests will be kept to a minimum.
It includes e-journals: all locally and nationally subscribed, and open access. The collections provided to Public Health staff in the NHS in England by UKHSA are included with these users included in the NHS Plus Copyright licence.
It doesn't include:
- print journal holdings
- the holdings of libraries which do not have an instance of the NHS Knowledge Hub
- books, e-books or e-book chapters
- Non Version of Record articles (these may be returned by LibKey Nomad)
- All journal articles published before 2000 - CrossRef began in 2000 and so most articles reliably have a DoI after this point. Some publishers have added DoIs to their archive but not all. PMIDs work provided there is also a DoI - PMID records without a DOI are not discoverable in INCDocs
The following aren't currently available, although are being considered for the future:
- Integration with library management systems and request management systems