Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I access AVL from home?

The Alabama Virtual Library uses geolocation technology to authenticate Alabama residents, which allows most Alabama residents to access AVL from their homes without the need for a username and password.

If the geolocation technology is unable to "recognize" a user as an Alabama resident, then residents may log in with an AVL (remote access) account.

AVL accounts may also be used to gain access when a resident is traveling outside the state. Users who live near the state line, users who access the Internet via their cell phone carrier or personal mifi, or users that use a VPN may not be automatically authenticated; these users will need to log in with an AVL account. Visit your local public library to request an AVL (remote access) account. K-12 students/staff in public schools may obtain an AVL account from their school library. 

Where can I get an AVL account?

Please visit your local public library to obtain an AVL account. K-12 students/staff in public schools may obtain an AVL account at their school library.

Renewal - AVL accounts must be renewed every three years. A week before your account is scheduled to expire, you will receive an e-mail reminding you that your account is about to expire. The e-mail will contain information on how you can renew your AVL account. If a patron moves, a new account may be obtained from the public library or school system where the patron resides. Accounts can be renewed for patrons that continue to reside in the same community or attend the same school school system. Note: Access may be denied at any time by AVL if access is abused.

Is there a fee to access AVL resources?

There are no fees associated with AVL. AVL resources are provided to all Alabama citizens through funding from the Alabama Legislature.

What are the policies regarding AVL access? What constitutes abuse?

The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) provides quality library information (magazine articles, newspapers, encyclopedias, and other reference sources) licensed for Alabama citizens. Information collected for AVL account registration will only be used to authenticate AVL users and provide updates on AVL and its databases.

AVL databases are licensed for personal use by Alabama citizens, students/staff at Alabama public schools, and users of Alabama public libraries. Please keep your account credentials secure and private. Use of AVL by unauthorized users outside of Alabama will jeopardize use of the databases by all Alabama citizens.

An AVL user may not sell, distribute or commercially exploit a product nor make an AVL database available on a network or through remote access technology. Misuse of services provided by AVL may result in denial of service.

An Internet connection is required to access AVL. General knowledge of web browsers and simple search forms is recommended. Tutorials and help screens are available.

How do I let AVL know that my account has been compromised?

If your account has been compromised, please contact the AVL Help Desk as soon as possible. Please provide as much information as possible including the user name of the compromised account. If a review indicates that the account has been compromised, the account will be deactivated. You can obtain a new account at your local public library. If you are student/staff at a K-12 school, please visit your school library to obtain a new account. 

What are the minimum browser requirements?

AVL is compatible with the majority of web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc). If you use older browsers, you may experience formatting errors or broken pages. For security reasons you should always make sure that you are using the latest version of your favorite browser.

I can't log into my account. What could be wrong?

1. Are you entering your password correctly?
Verify your password. Did you transpose i/1/I or o/O/0? Original passwords do not contain numbers.

2. Do you have cookies and JavaScript enabled?
Confirm that cookies and JavaScript are enabled. See the HELP feature for your browser for more information on resetting these options.

3. Is your computer's clock set correctly?
Make sure that your computer's clock is set to the correct time. Your AVL cookie is valid for a two hour time period.
 

For further assistance, please contact the AVL Help Desk.

I forgot my password. How do I reset it?

To reset your password follow these steps.
Go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us and click on the Login  Image of not logged in button  icon in the top right corner of the webpage.

  1. From the drop down menu click on Request New Password. This will take you to the User Account screen. 
  2. Once you are on the User Account screen enter the e-mail address that was used to create your AVL account and click on E-Mail New Password.
  3. You will receive an e-mail that contains further instructions. 

If are unable to reset your password, please contact the AVL Help Desk.

I logged into my account, but I can't access some of the AVL resources. If I do a search, I'm asked to provide a user ID and password. What could be causing this?

Do you have firewall/security software installed?
You may find it necessary to adjust some settings in your firewall/security program. If the problem is with EBSCO, visit EBSCO's support page.
 

Are your Internet Explorer privacy settings set too high?
Your Internet Explorer privacy settings may be set too high. Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Internet Options". Click the "Privacy" tab and make sure your settings are "medium" or lower.

Have you tried using another browser?
There may be an issue with browser you are currently using. You may want to try using another web browser.

For further assistance, please contact the AVL Help Desk. 

I live in Alabama and AVL will not Geo IP authenticate me. What could be causing this?

Are you using a cellular data network, personal hotspot, or satellite internet connection?
Cellular data networks, personal hotspots, and satellite internet connections can pull their IP addresses from anywhere in the U.S. If you live in Alabama (and you are using one of these connection types) your IP address may be coming from another state. If you are using a cellular data network, personal hotspot, or satellite internet connection, you will need to log in with an AVL account.

Do you live near the state line?
If you live near the state line, your internet connection (provided through your Internet Service Provider) may be coming from a neighboring state. If your internet connection is coming out of another state, you will need to log in with an AVL account.

If you do not have an AVL account, please visit your local public library. If you are a K-12 student, please visit your school library to obtain an AVL account. 

If you are a campus/library and you are experiencing issues with Geo IP authentication, please contact the AVL Help Desk for assistance.

I'm using a VPN and I am not Geo IP authenticated. How can I access AVL?

If a user wants to access AVL while using a VPN, they will need to log in with an AVL account. If the user does not have an AVL account, they will need to go to their local public library to obtain an account. If they are a public school student, they will need to go to their school library.

How do I find my IP address?

AVL doesn't show that I am geo-authenticated. I contacted the AVL Help Desk and they asked me for my IP address. How do I find out what my IP address is?

The AVL website has a tool that will show you what your IP address is. To access this tool click on the "Log In" icon Image of not logged in button in the top right corner of the website and a drop down menu will appear. There is a link in the drop down menu called View Location Information. Click on this link and it will take you to another page (within the AVL website) that will display your IP address. 

AVL login window
Image of the AVL login window

If you are automatically Geo IP authenticated you will see the "Logged In" icon Image of logged in button . You will see the View Location Information link in the dropdown menu when you click on the "Logged In" icon.  

How to issue AVL accounts at Public Libraries, Colleges, and Universities.
  1. Go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us and click on the Login Authenticated icon Image of the logged in button in the top right corner of the webpage.
     
  2. If you are automatically logged in via Geo or Campus IP, please click on Switch User and then log in with your public library/college or university’s AVL administrator credentials. 
  3. If you are not automatically logged in, you will see the Login login_unauthenticated_bluebg.png icon in the top right of the webpage. Click on the icon and log in using your school’s AVL administrator credentials.
     
  4. On the Create AVL Account form, enter the user’s first name, last name, and e-mail address. Note: An e-mail address is required to create an AVL account. If you have any notes that you want to include in the form, you can enter them in the Notes field. 
     
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Review Submission button. This will take you to the Account Review screen. 
     
  6. Review the information that you entered and if it is correct click on the Submit Account Request button. If the information is not correct click on the Previous button to go back to the Create AVL Account screen and make the necessary changes. 
     
  7. Once the request has been submitted, you will be taken to a Registration Complete screen and you will see a temporary login code. The user will not be able to use their AVL account credentials until their account has been activated by an AVL administrator. However, they can log in with the temporary login code. Once the user's AVL account has been activated, they will no longer be able to log in with their temporary login credentials.  
     
  8. Once the user’s account has been activated, they will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to set their password. Once the user has set their password, they can log into their account.
     
  9. Users that were issued an AVL account under the old AVL website will need to use their existing AVL credentials to log in. Users that are issued an AVL account on the new website will need to use their e-mail address and password for their login credentials. Users will need to remember the e-mail address that was used to create their account, if they ever need to use the Request New Password feature on the AVL website.
How to issue AVL accounts at Public Schools.
  1. Go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us and click on the Login Authenticated icon Image of the logged in button in the top right corner of the webpage.
     
  2. If you are automatically logged in via Geo or Campus IP, please click on Switch User and then log in with your public school's AVL administrator credentials.
  3. If you are not automatically logged in, you will see the Login icon login_unauthenticated_bluebg.png in the top right of the webpage. Click on the icon and log in using your school's AVL administrator credentials.
     
  4. On the Create AVL Account form, enter the student’s first name, last name, and e-mail address. Note: An e-mail address is required to create an AVL account. Next, select the student's school from the School dropdown.
     
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Review Submission button. This will take you to the Account Review screen. 
     
  6. Review the information that you entered and if it is correct click on the Submit Account Request button. If the information is not correct, click on the Previous button to go back to the Create AVL Account screen and make the necessary changes. 
     
  7. Once the request has been submitted, you will be taken to a Registration Complete screen and you will see temporary login credentials. The student will not be able to use their AVL account credentials until their account has been activated by an AVL administrator. However, they can log in with the temporary login credentials. Once the student's AVL account has been activated, they will no longer be able to log in with the temporary login credentials.  
     
  8. Once the student’s account has been activated, they will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to set their password. Once the student has set their password, they can log into their account.
     
  9. Students that were issued an AVL account under the old AVL website will need to use their existing AVL credentials to log in. Students that are issued an AVL account on the new website will need to use their e-mail address and password for their login credentials. Students will need to remember the e-mail address that was used to create their account, if they ever need to use the Request New Password feature on the AVL website.
How do I search AVL databases/access the AVL Discovery Search?

To access the AVL Discovery Search select one of the categories under Resources for Alabama... at the top of the webpage. 

 

Image of the AVL resources menu

 

Alternatively, you can also access the AVL Discovery Search by clicking on the  green magnifying glass icon Image of the AVL magnifying glass that is located the top right corner of the AVL website. Once you have clicked on the magnifying glass icon the Search AVL window will open.

 

Image of the Search AVL window

 

The left side of the Search AVL window has links for accessing AVL databases (resources) for the various grade levels. Clicking on these links will take you to the resources page for that grade level. From the resources page, you will be able to access the resources and the AVL Discovery Search for that grade level.

 

Image of the Search AVL Resources (Databases) window

 

To begin your AVL Discovery Search enter your search criteria into the Discovery Search box and click on the magnifying glass icon. You can also press the Enter key on your keyboard to start your search.

 

Image of the AVL Elementary Discovery Search box

 

Once you have initiated your search, you will be taken to the AVL Discovery Search results page. This page will display matches based on your search criteria. 

 

Image of AVL Elementary Discovery Search results

 

Not all of the resources that AVL subscribes to are included in the AVL Discovery Search. To access resources that are not included in the AVL Discovery Search click on Search Additional Resources and then click on the resource that you want to access. 

Image of the Search Additional Resources page for Elementary Resources

 

Some AVL resources have integrated search boxes in their informational pop up window. To access this feature, click on the information icon Image of the information icon in the resource tile and then enter your search terms into the integrated search box. 

How do I search the AVL website?

AVL has a site search that can be used to search the AVL website for information about AVL. The site search will search AVL for Contact Information, Help with AVL, AVL Archives, information on the AVL Council, Database Descriptions, and Usage Statistics just to name a few.

To access the AVL site search click on the green magnifying glass icon Image of the magnifying glass icon located in the top right corner of the AVL website. Once you have clicked on the magnifying glass icon the Search AVL window will open.

 

Image of the AVL Search window

 

The right side of the AVL Search window contains the Search for Information about AVL search box. 

 

Image of the Search the AVL Website search box

 

To utilize the search, enter your search criteria into the Search the AVL Website search box and click on the blue magnifying glass. You can also press the Enter key on your keyboard to start your search.

 

Image of the Search the AVL Website search box

 

Once your search has been initiated, you will be taken to the Search Results page. The Search Results page will have a list of links that matched your search criteria

 

Image of Search the AVL search results page

 

Clicking on these links will take you to the section of the AVL website that contains more information on your search criteria. For example if you searched for “Contact AVL”, your search results will display links for any part of the website that contains information on how you can contact the AVL Help Desk.

If you click on the link for “Contact AVL Helpdesk”, you will be taken to the Contact AVL Helpdesk section of the website. From here, you can obtain information on the various methods that are available for you to contact the AVL Helpdesk.

How do I cite AVL resources?

Most AVL databases have citation information in a toolbar at the article level. You may also consult the appropriate style manual. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/resources.html

    Why can't I get multimedia resources to play on my computer?

    If you are experiencing issues accessing the multimedia content for an AVL resource, please review the following information and share it with your technical support staff. 

    Technical Requirements

    Some resources require that the following software applications be installed in order to access their multimedia content. Please note that Britannica resources may require additional software applications to be installed. Visit Britannica's support page for more information on their technical requirements.

    Windows Media Player

    Adobe Flash Player

    Adobe Reader

    How do I create a shortcut to AVL on my device?

    Follow these easy steps to create a shortcut to AVL on your desktop.

    Windows Users

    1. Open your browser and go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us.
    2. Select a blank spot on the webpage (an area that does not contain any text or images), right click, and select Create Shortcut. Note: If you are using Chrome, right click and select Save As. If you are using Firefox, right click, and select Save Page As.
    3. Click Yes when asked if you create a shortcut on your desktop.
    4. You now have a shortcut for AVL on your desktop.

    Android Users

    1. Open Chrome and go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us.
    2. Tap the menu button and then tap on Add to Home Screen. 
    3. You now have a shortcut for AVL on your home screen.

    OS X Users

    1. Open Safari and go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us.
    2. Select the entire https://www.avl.lib.al.us URL that is in the web address bar. 
    3. Click and drag the URL onto your desktop and release the mouse button.
    4. You now have a shortcut for AVL on your desktop.

    iOS Users

    1. Launch Safari and go to https://www.avl.lib.al.us. 
    2. Tap on the Share button on the browser's toolbar. Note: For iPad users the toolbar is located at the top of the screen. For iPhone users the toolbar is located at the bottom of the screen. 
    3. Tap on the Add to Home Screen button.
    4. iOS will prompt you to name the shortcut before you can add it to the home screen. Once you name your shortcut tap the Add button.
    5. You now have a shortcut for AVL on your home screen.
    How do I get MARC records for AVL E-Books?

    To access MARC records please click on the appropriate link below. To access E-Books click on E-Books Resources under Resources for Alabama... at the top of the AVL webpage.

    Britannica E-Books
    Informational Flyer
    MARC Records

    Gale Virtual Reference Library
    Title List
    MARC Records

    Oxford Digital Reference Shelf
    Title List
    MARC Records

    My issue is not listed in the FAQs. What do I do now?

    If you need additional help, contact your local public library or contact the AVL Help Desk. Please provide:

    • Your name, e-mail address, and a phone number.
    • A description of your issue and the steps you took to access a particular database. Please be sure to include any error messages.
    • The date and time the issue occurred.
    • Indicate which browser you are using (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.)