VPNs
VPN: A VPN scrambles data as it is transmitted between a server and a mobile device (phone or tablet), a desktop computer (at your home), or a laptop computer (when you are traveling). This allows you to access UVa Library resources, including Virgo and databases, as if you were on-grounds. Library subscription databases don't require an individual login to access them. They authenticate through the IP address. Using a VPN ensures that the database "sees" your computer as being on an acceptable IP address. Be sure you are also using the database link that is in this guide, or the Library's A-Z database list.
UVa offers four types of VPNs for accessing UVa resources: the UVaAnywhere, the UVa More Secure Network (MSN), the Joint VPN, and the High Security VPN
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UVaAnywhere VPN: Provides an off-Grounds connection to resources that normally require you to be on Grounds to use them such as Library resources, the UVA Home Directory Service, the Exchange Server, servers restricted by departments, etc. It provides an on-Grounds IP address for all applications on your computer, thereby protecting all network traffic, whether or not it is Web-based, between your machine and the UVa network.
- UVa More Secure Network (MSN): The MSN uses a firewall, a network security device designed to help protect your computer from hackers and other malicious people on the Internet. Your computer can make outbound connections to access resources on the internet, but the firewall blocks inbound connections from remote computers.
- Joint VPN: Enables academic users access to resources protected by the highest security using a UVA Identity Token from on- or off-grounds.
- High Security VPN: Enables users access to systems that are approved for handling highly sensitive data using 2-Step Login from on- or off-Grounds.
Help with Access to Library Resources
This page provides guidance on how to use tools like the Reload @ UVA button and LibKey Nomad for help in accessing articles paid for by the UVA Libraries if you are using a non-library search tool like Google off-Grounds.
To the left you will also find information on what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is and how you can get access to one at UVA to help when you're researching from off-Grounds.
If you have questions or run in to trouble when trying to access a particular article, ebook, or other resource, feel free to email Sherri for help, or, for a quick response, try our Ask a Librarian chat support or other options to contact our Library staff.
LibKey Nomad for Article Access
Libkey Nomad is a browser extension that instantly identifies links to articles for full text access (either through your library's holdings or through Open Access sources), and if it can't find a version of the article that is available to you through your library, it will fill out an ILL request for you through your library. It means you can browse the publisher websites directly rather than searching the library website for an article.
Using Libkey Nomad is a bit like taking a librarian with you as you surf the web: it will identify access to articles you browse, and take you to the full text if we have access. If we don't have access, it will fill out an ILL request for you, which you just have to click to submit.
It works in all of the major browsers, including: Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, Brave, and Vivaldi.
You do not need to be on Grounds, or connected via the VPN to use it, and you don't have to create an account; you'll be prompted to authenticate via Netbadge when needed.
To use Libkey Nomad:
- Download and install the Libkey Nomad browser extension from the Chrome, Firefox or MacOS (for Safari) stores. Note that the installation procedure for Safari is detailed on the MacOS store page. For Chrome or Firefox:
- You will see a pop up stating that Libkey Nomad can "read and change all your data on the websites you visit." This is allows Libkey Nomad to detect article details on pages you visit, so it can locate them for you in our library holdings, and it also allows it to add download buttons to the webpage. No data about you or your searches is saved!
- Select University of Virginia as your organization when prompted to do so, and then close the pop-up window.
- You'll see the Libkey Nomad icon on your toolbar:
- Libkey Nomad is now working. Just browse the literature as you would normally, visiting articles through Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed or other library databases, or by visiting the journal website directly. Open access repositories and Unpaywall are also checked, if the article isn't in a UVA-subscribed journal.
- When you view an article page you will see one of the following:
- "Download PDF" will appear if the UVA Library has the article available. Click on the image to access the PDF:
- "Access Options..." will show if Libkey Nomad can't fine a way to access the article for free from UVA subscribed databases. Clicking on this will take you to a pre-filled ILL request form, and you will need to log in to the ILL system via Netbadge:
- "Download PDF" will appear if the UVA Library has the article available. Click on the image to access the PDF:
Using Libkey Nomad to Access Article from off-Grounds without the VPN
- Locate an article you wish to read.
- Click the Libkey Nomad button on the page.
- There may be a brief delay, and you may see messaging that says, "To access this document, wait a moment or click here to continue"
- The article will load for you to read.
Reload @ UVA Button
UVA Libraries Reload Button
Doing research off-Grounds? Try out the reload button! Add the button to your browser's bookmark toolbar (see instructions below), and whenever you come across a journal or article you think you should be able to access, click the button to reload the page through the UVA Library proxy
For all browsers: Click and drag this 
image to the bookmarks toolbar. If the bookmarks/favorites toolbar isn't open, press Shift + Ctrl + B (Windows) or Shift + ⌘(command) + B (Mac).
Notes:
- Find more information at https://guides.lib.virginia.edu/reload
- You can avoid the need to use by Reload Button by installing the Libkey Nomad browser extension.
- A browser may warn you that the Reload@UVA link may be unsafe, but the link to the UVA EZ Proxy is safe, so you can go ahead and add it.
- Reloading the page through the proxy still won't give you access if it's a resource we don't subscribe to.
- In some cases, we subscribe to certain articles through databases, so the publisher site will not allow access. In this case, you can use the LibKey Nomad browser plugin to find access to articles.
- You can also verify access by looking up the journal or database.
*Note: Reloading the page through the proxy still won't give you access if it's a resource we don't subscribe to. To verify access, look up the journal or database in the appropriate list. Credit to Robin Dasler at UMD for developing this simple, yet key, research tool!