How to login and troubleshoot
Start here: How to login to access library resources
1. Begin your search
You do not need to log in anywhere to start browsing! Use the Discovery search bar, the Advanced Search, or a database of your choice.
2. Do not sign in to your library account
If you used the Discovery search bar or the Advanced Search, you'll see the screen below with your search results. Signing in here will only bring you to your library account, which you don't need to do to access library resources like articles and ebooks.
If you see this login screen, you are in the wrong spot for accessing articles and ebooks. Click the "back" button on your web browser to return to the previous page.
3. Select your resource
Click the item's title or the blue "view" button.
4. Authenticate yourself when prompted
This login tells our library databases that you are an NDNU user.
Use your NDNU student credentials (the part of your NDNU email address before the @, and your email password). If you receive an error screen after trying to authenticate, you probably need to reset your password. Remember to update any password managers with your new password!
Error messages and what to do about them
Most error screens you encounter while doing library research can be resolved by clearing your web browser's cache and cookies.
- Try a different web browser. Occasionally a resource will not work well with, or without, a specific browser or plugin (especially Safari and Edge; we have found Chrome to be most reliable).
- If your browser seems to pause or not do anything after you enter your username and password to authenticate, try reloading or refreshing the page.
- If your browser or computer seems slower than usual, make sure you do not have too many tabs or applications open. Having many tabs or multiple browsers open can slow down a computer significantly.
- Try rebooting your computer. It's a bit cliché, but turning your machine off and then back on can often help!
In addition to a web browser (like Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox) to access the library website, a few other free tools will help you access and organize library resources. Here are our recommendations:
- For viewing PDFs: Adobe Acrobat Reader
- This free program is the most-used PDF viewer. It has some basic annotation tools and allows you to fill in forms and e-sign. For more advanced PDF editing abilities, you can subscribe to .
- Computers also come with built-in PDF viewers with basic annotation tools ( on PCs, on Macs).
- For writing: (access Word and other Microsoft 365 apps for free through your NDNU Outlook email)
- To maximize your digital privacy and security, we recommend doing all your NDNU-related work with Microsoft tools, as opposed to outside apps like Google Docs.
- Computers also come with built-in word processors like for Mac. These apps have limited formatting options, so you'll want to use Microsoft Word for your final drafts.
- For organizing citations: Zotero
- Citation managers are not necessary but they can be helpful if you're working on a larger project like a capstone or thesis with dozens of sources.
Check out the for more info on how to use these tools and other ones you're sure to encounter during your time at NDNU.
The Office of Information Technology is available to answer questions about your NDNU credentials, connecting to campus Wi-fi, and more. Click here to visit OIT's webpage.