Why should I subscribe to an online ASM journal, particularly if my institution subscribes and I can access the online journals from work?
Will I receive a password? May I share my password?
What if I forget my password?
What content is available online?
If I stop subscribing to the online version, will I still retain access to the full text for the
year(s) in which I subscribed?
How can I tell whether my institution has subscribed? How do I get my institution to subscribe?
How long will the volumes of ASM Journals Online remain available on the Internet?
Who is eligible for a Member subscription?

1. Why should I subscribe to an online ASM journal, particularly if my institution subscribes and I can access the online journals from work?

Certain features of the online journals are only available to member subscribers:
Figure/Table Searching - conduct keyword searches of table titles and figure legends;
ASM Minireview Collection - have access to the complete collection;
Access - have online journal access from any computer worldwide.

Also, members are offered an excellent pricing option of all 11 online journals for only $225 for 2008 or special journal packages for $190.

2. Will I receive a password? May I share my password?

When you complete the subscription activation process, you will create an online journal subscription user name and a password for yourself. This is separate from your ASM membership username and password. You are the only one licensed to use this password -- sharing of passwords is not allowed.

3. What if I forget my password?

Click here for instructions.

4. What content is available online?

Full-text content, including accepted manuscripts, is online from date of origin up to the current issue. Citations and abstracts are available in several metadata sites, such as PubMed with links to full articles on the ASM site.

5. If I stop subscribing to the online version, will I still retain access to the full text for the year(s) in which I subscribed?

Access to the current full-text collection is permitted for current subscribers only. However, free access is granted to full-text content that is more than four [4] months old for the primary-research journals and one [1] year old for the review journals.

6. How can I tell whether my institution has subscribed? How do I get my institution to subscribe?

You will see an indication at the top of an article abstract or full-text page confirming that your institution has a subscription [e.g., "Institution: (your institution's name)"].

If your institution has a subscription, you will automatically have access to the tables of contents, abstracts, full-text searching, full-text display in HTML and PDF, and Medline and GenBank links. If you cannot gain access from your campus or company and you think your institution has an institutional subscription, contact your librarian.

If your institution has not subscribed and you would like to have an institutional subscription, please contact your librarian.

7. How long will the volumes of ASM Journals Online remain available on the Internet?

In response to our subscribers’ concerns about archiving online content, ASM plans to leave online all volumes available on the Internet for the foreseeable future (see Question 4).

8. Who is eligible for a Member Subscription?

Current ASM members are eligible for a member subscription to ASM Journals Online (only individuals are eligible for membership, not institutions). If you are interested in ASM membership, please contact the ASM Member Subscription Office at the address below or visit the ASM member website.

Still have questions?

For further information, please contact the ASM headquarters
Office hours are 8:30 am - 4:45 p.m. ET Monday-Friday
Member Subscription Office
1752 N Street, NW
USA
Washington, DC 20036-2904
Tel: (202) 942-9319 Fax: (202) 942-9346
service{at}asmusa.org

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