Ejournals, ebooks and databases

The RCP library's online collections include:

• ejournals: including The BMJ, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, NEJM and Wiley ejournals
• ebooks: including Oxford Medical Handbooks and the Oxford Textbook of Medicine
• medical databases: MEDLINE, Embase (drugs and healthcare), Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED)
• education databases: Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) and the British Education Index – for students on RCP courses.

How to access the collections

All of the RCP's collections can be searched using the Discovery search tool. The library service also offers free literature searches.

To access the library's online collections you will need an RCP Athens account.

An RCP Athens account is available to:

• RCP course students
• members of the Primary Care Network (PCN)
• members of the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine (FFLM)
• those within the following RCP membership categories:
  • foundation year
  • associate
  • physician associate
  • affiliate
  • collegiate
  • fellow.

The Library Reading Room provides onsite access to all walk-in users. Education databases are only available to RCP course students in medical education or medical leadership, and members of the Peer Support Network (PSN).

Request an Athens account

For password access call +44 (0)20 3075 1539 (10am–5pm, Monday–Friday) or email library@rcplondon.ac.uk.

User guides

How we can help

If you've forgotten your password you can request a new one.

Forgotten your username? Try using your (non-NHS) email address or contact us Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm:

• Telephone: +44 (0)20 3075 1539
• Email: library@rcplondon.ac.uk.

Not in our collection?

Articles not in our ejournal collection can be emailed to you via our document delivery service. To suggest new e-resources, please fill in our survey.

Access difficulties

If you experience any problems accessing our e-resources please contact the library (library@rcplondon.ac.uk) specifying the name of the resource and any error messages you receive.

For problems with ejournals please provide the following information:

• journal title
• publisher
• issue number
• year.

Please note that ejournals can be accessed more easily via the Discovery search tool available after you log in, than via a publisher’s website.

Screenshots may help us resolve the problem faster.

Database search training and tips

You can send us your search strategy to receive tips on how to refine it for better results. Individual training sessions can also be arranged.

Free literature searches

We can perform an expert search for you and give you the resulting references and abstracts. Members may place up to three requests per year; we search one database per request. There is a standard turnaround time of 2–3 weeks.

To request this service please complete a literature search request form and email it to the library.

This service is available to:

• members of the PCN
• members of the FFLM
• those within the following RCP membership categories:
  • foundation year
  • associate
  • physician associate
  • affiliate
  • collegiate
  • fellow.