Having issues accessing an online resource?
Why am I hitting a paywall when off-campus?
The vast majority of the University of Dayton's non-print collection is "licensed content," meaning it is paid for by the library. This content--in the form of e-books, streaming media, and journal article databases--is available at no cost to UD students, faculty, and staff. That being said, if one of these content providers is unable to recognize your UD affiliation, you will hit a paywall. This typically occurs when you're off campus, but can also happen when you're on campus and not connected to a UD wi-fi network or when you're on campus using a web browser with custom privacy settings to hide your IP address.
Tips On How To Avoid Paywalls
To avoid paywalls, students, faculty, and staff are advised to:
- Select links from the library website or the A-Z database list to authenticate using your UD username and password. This is required almost always when off-campus, and sometimes when on campus.
- Look for the university's branding within publisher platforms such as SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, or Wiley Online Library. Seeing this branding will verify that your UD affiliation is recognized (and that you'll avoid paywalls to our subscription content). Here's an example of what this branding typically looks like:
- Look for "Access through your institution" links (sometimes labelled as "Institutional Login") when trying to access journal articles or e-books. Often these links will allow you to authenticate to reach the full text. Below is a screenshot of what not to click when trying to access content, followed by a screenshot of what to click to reach institutional access. Learn more about this authentication method.
