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Troubleshooting & Access

Accessing KYVL resources

Authorized users may request a password through KYVL's password request form.

KYVL resources are provided in partnership with participating Kentucky libraries, which include Kentucky schools, public libraries, college and universities, hospitals and more. Visit your participating library to use KYVL resources on site. Library staff can also provide a KYVL username and password for use of KYVL resources from home and elsewhere. Learn more about how to get a password below.

How to get a password

If you are away from your campus or library, you will be prompted to log in once you choose a resource. You may request a username and password at password.kyvl.org using your school, college, state government, or other qualifying email address.

If you do not have a qualifying email address, please contact your local library. KYVL usernames and passwords cannot be sent to an unverifiable email address and KYVL staff cannot give out login information to unverified users over the phone.

College and university users

Most institutions of higher education in Kentucky link to KYVL databases through their library web pages, allowing students, faculty and staff to log in off campus using institutional login credentials.

To use KYVL resources directly from the KYVL website, request a password at password.kyvl.org using your college email address.

K12 students and teachers

Students and teachers in member schools and districts may request a username and password at password.kyvl.org using your school email address. You can also request a password from your library media specialist. KYVL resources can be used all year long, including over summer break.

Students in districts that do not participate may register as borrowers with their participating public library to obtain KYVL login credentials for use outside of school hours. Access to KYVL resources is not available on school networks for non-member districts.

In most Kentucky counties, school districts and public libraries both pay KYVL membership fees. This cost sharing is necessary to keep KYVL affordable for all members. If K12 districts do not elect to participate, their students do not have access to their public library's KYVL resources on school networks.

Hospital staff

Request a username and password at password.kyvl.org using an email account associated with a KYVL member hospital, or contact your hospital library staff.

Military personnel

Kentucky's military personnel and their families should contact the base library for a KYVL username and password.

State government employees

KYVL resources are available to Kentucky state government employees through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA). Visit KDLA's State Government Employees pages for access to KYVL and other resources, or request a KYVL password at password.kyvl.org using a qualifying state government email address, such as @ky.gov, @lrc.ky.gov or @education.ky.gov.

Public library users and other Kentuckians

Kentucky Virtual Library resources are available through participating Kentucky libraries. Contact your local member library for a password that allows access from home. Library contact information is available in the Kentucky Public Library Directory.

A note about LearningExpress Library

LearningExpress Library requires a personal login to access tests, test prep, and the other resources. Learn more at kyvl.org/learningexpress. or Ask KYVL if you need assistance.

A note about K12 access

In most Kentucky counties, school districts and public libraries both pay KYVL membership fees. This cost sharing is necessary to keep KYVL affordable for all members. If K12 districts do not elect to participate, their students do not have access to their public library's KYVL resources on school networks.

Fixes for common login problems

Many common login errors can be resolved using the tips below.

Clear browser cache

Login errors can result from cached data. Clear the cache of most browsers by pressing:

    

Chrome

  • Press Control + Shift + Delete simultaneously.
  • In the 'Clear browsing data' window, check all options.
  • Select the "Clear browsing data" button.

Firefox

  • Press Control + Shift + Delete simultaneously.
  • In the 'Clear All History' window, check all boxes.
  • Select the "Clear now" button.

Internet Explorer

  • Press Control + Shift + Delete simultaneously.
  • In the 'Delete Browsing History' window, check all boxes except Preserve Favorites Website Data.
  • Select the "Delete" button.

Safari

Confirm / update IP address

If you being prompted to log in while on campus or on the network of a KYVL member library, please contact KYVL to confirm that we have your institution's current IP ranges on file.

Go to whatismyip.com and report your public IP to KYVL.

Note that the following IP ranges are private and internal to a library or institution:

  • 10.*.*.*
  • 172.16.*.* - 172.31.*.*
  • 192.168.*.*

Librarians and IT administrators may submit IP changes by logging into the KYVL Member Portal and selecting Member forms > Request IP change. Requests may also be submitted through Ask KYVL.

When requesting IP changes, please note the following:

  • It takes some time to make the IP changes.
  • Authentication to KYVL resources from within a member library occurs via IP addresses on record with KYVL and our content providers.
  • When there is a change, we notify the content providers such as EBSCO, ProQuest, OCLC, etc.
  • We also update our authentication server.
  • Usually, the IP updates are made within 24 hours, but can be a little slower.
  • Seamless access to KYVL resources will not be working until those IP changes are made.
Enable cookies

KYVL users log in to databases through EZproxy, which uses cookies to provide database access. If you do not have cookies enabled, please click on one of the links below for instructions on enabling cookies in the browser you are using.

Learn more about cookies at www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/cookies/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-cookies.

Update your browser

Is your web browser up to date? Please follow these steps to check and update.

Chrome

  • Enter chrome://settings/help in your Chrome address bar

OR

  • Click the 3 dots in the upper righthand corner of your web browser window.
  • Choose Help > About Google Chrome.
  • If you need an update, Chrome will automatically begin updating.
  • Relaunch Chrome for the changes to take effect.

Firefox

  • Enter about:preferences#advanced in your Firefox address bar.
  • If necessary, choose Update from the menu.
  • The option to "automatically install updates" may already be selected. If not, follow these steps to initiate an update.

Internet Explorer (IE)

  • Go to Tools (Alt + X) > About Internet Explorer.
  • Check "Install new versions automatically." If this box is checked, no further action is needed.
  • IE has been replaced by Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge

  • Enter edge://help in your Edge address bar
    OR
  • Click the 3 dots in the upper righthand corner of your web browser window.
  • Choose Help and Feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
  • If an update is available, it will start downloading automatically.
  • Restart your browser to complete updating.