Written by: Libby Gremaud 

Research can sometimes be a frustrating part of school assignments.  If you’re using Google Scholar, or any other tool that isn’t through the Libraries, oftentimes websites will block you or ask that you pay to access their materials. Thankfully, Mizzou Libraries has a tool available that can help if you run into this problem – you can still use the tool you prefer, but get the article that you need. 

Lean Library is a browser extension that can be used by Mizzou students to help bypass these blockers and help figure out if you have access to the materials under the library’s licenses. It’s super easy to download, and even easier to use! 

All you have to do to download the extension is follow this link, choose your browser type, and click “Download”. Once you have followed the instructions to download, Lean Library will ask you to choose your institution, which would be “University of Missouri Columbia”. It will then ask you about your setting preferences, which you can choose based on your individual needs. After you’ve done this, the extension should be able to be used, although it’s helpful to pin it.

To use the extension, simply search the way you normally would. When you find a source, whether it’s a newspaper, a book, or an article, Lean Library will automatically pop up on the top right of your browser and let you know about the source’s availability within the Mizzou Libraries system. It may tell you to follow a link to access the material. If the Libraries don’t have access, one of the potential popups that you may get will automatically direct you to request it through ILL, or “Inter-Library Loan”.

Our library will make a request to another institution that has the material and they will then send it to you to use. This can be done with both online and print materials, and is generally pretty fast since it’s primarily electronic. 

Once you’ve downloaded this browser extension, research done off-campus will be so much easier. The extension can be toggled on and off so that it’s only there when you need it. There are so many resources that the Mizzou Libraries offer, and we want to ensure that students are able to access these resources no matter where they are. Make sure to download this browser and make your research process so much easier!