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What is Lean Library?
What is Lean Library?
Lean Library is a browser extension—sometimes called a plugin or add-on—available for Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and other Chrome-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi.
What does Lean Library do?
What does Lean Library do?
Lean Library provides direct links to full-text options—including articles and eBooks—both within the library’s databases and on websites across the internet, as long as the extension is enabled.
For example, if you’re searching Google Scholar and encounter a paywall, Lean Library will automatically display a popup with a link to the full text from the library’s collection—saving you the extra step of searching the library’s Discovery tool yourself. This makes it faster and easier to access full-text resources no matter where you start your research.
Remember, students, faculty, and staff are generally not required to pay for access to scholarly materials beyond what is specifically assigned for class. The HJF Library is here to help provide access through the services we already offer.
Lean Library helps you avoid paywalls by connecting you directly to articles or eBooks that the library has already purchased for your use.
💡What is a paywall?
💡What is a paywall?
A paywall is a barrier that appears when you try to access an article or eBook that requires payment for full access.
How does Lean Library work?
How does Lean Library work?
Lean Library connects directly to the library’s Discovery Search, which aggregates results from all of our databases, eBooks, and physical materials. That’s why, when you use Discovery, you see results from across our entire collection—including databases, books, and even movies.
When enabled in your browser, Lean Library automatically looks for article and book titles on the websites you visit. If it finds a match in the library’s holdings, it provides a direct link right on the webpage—making access to library resources seamless, no matter where you start your search.
What do I need to know to use Lean Library?
What do I need to know to use Lean Library?
To begin, you’ll need to install Lean Library for your preferred browser. Visit the Lean Library installation website, which will automatically detect your browser and provide the correct download link for the extension.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. Lean Library offers step-by-step guidance for every supported browser, making installation straightforward. Be sure to select Morningside University as your library during setup—this step is essential for enabling access to all library resources through the extension.
Once Lean Library is installed, you’re ready to begin using it. Below is a quick overview of key features you’ll find in the extension. Feel free to explore and click around—there may be additional tools and options that suit your research needs.
Accessing and Pinning the Extension - Lean Library can be found wherever you have pinned it in your browser’s toolbar. Click the icon to open the dropdown menu and access settings or features.
Turning Lean Library On or Off - Use the green slider in the extension’s menu to enable or disable Lean Library. When on, Lean Library runs in the background and may display popups with links—even outside of active research sessions. If you find this distracting, simply switch Lean Library off and turn it back on when you’re ready to continue researching.
Full Text Link Button - Look for the link icon within Lean Library popups; clicking it will open a new browser tab with the full text of the article (when available through library access).
Citation Counts with Scite.ai - Lean Library integrates with scite.ai—another library tool (see guide here on using scite). Scite displays citation counts and provides insights about how an article has been cited: whether those citations are supporting, contrasting, or simply mentioning the work. With Lean Library enabled, Scite citation data appears directly below Google Scholar search results, so you can quickly view citation details without clicking through to the article.
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