Q. I'm trying to access a database/journal/article and am being asked for a password. What is the password?

The majority of our subscribed resources, including databases, ejournals, and ebooks, do not have individual password access.* Instead, we use the 2-factor authentication system or the VPN to authenticate off campus users and pass them through to these resources. Simply start on the library's website, search in the main search box, Discovery Search or Discovery Search's advance search screen, use the link to browse or search our databases, ebooks, or journals. Once you encounter a resource that requires authentication, you will be automatically prompted to sign in and authenticate yourself as affiliated with Virginia Tech via your PID and 2-factor authentication. *Note: Creating an account with most of our databases (such as EBSCOhost, IEEE Explore, OCLC (WorldCat Discovery), ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, etc.) is completely optional; you do not need to sign in or create an account in order to use these databases. Creating a personal account allows you to save searches and save items to a personal list.

Install the LibKey Nomad browser extension for access to library resources. It's our replacement for LibX. Simply download and install the extension from the Third Iron site, for Chrome or Firefox browser. During the installation process, you'll be asked to identify your library; simply search for Virginia Tech. This saves a lot of time when using Google Scholar, PubMed, or other open search engines.

Remember, never enter your PID and password on a non-vt.edu site. Third party sites, including library subscribed databases and ejournals, have absolutely no access to Virginia Tech's passwords; entering your password on these sites will just reveal your password to that third party. This is one way people unwittingly give others access to their passwords. Don't do it.

The Virtual Private Network connects you directly to the campus network. When using the VPN, be sure to select the option to route all traffic through the VPN (not just connections to servers on campus).