Get articles faster: meet LibKey Nomad

As part of our year-long pilot of LibKey software, you have access to LibKey Nomad, a browser extension that gives you one-click access to scholarly articles. This add-on is especially helpful in linking to library resources from off campus.

Install and set up Nomad

Once you’ve downloaded the extension and added it to your browser, select the green flame icon to choose Reed College Library as your organization.

Remember, this extension is specific to the browser! If you usually use Safari but switch to Chrome, you’ll need to add Nomad to Chrome too.

Screenshot of LibKey Nomad organization selection, with "reed" typed in to show how to select Reed College Library.

Why use Nomad?

Here are a few scenarios that might be familiar:

  • You subscribed to be notified whenever a new issue of your favorite journal is published and you want PDF access from the Table of Contents without logging in through the library
  • You get a newsletter from a scholarly publisher that highlights a few recent articles and you want to get through to the articles without logging in through the library
  • You’re doing general searching in Google Scholar, PubMed, or Wikipedia

How does it work?

LibKey Nomad looks for DOIs, PMIDs, or ebook ISBNs in the content of a webpage and determines whether you have access as a member of the Reed community or through Open Access. If we don’t have access, Nomad will route you to the Interlibrary Loan form to make an ILL request.

You may see a badge in the lower corner. If Nomad can’t provide a PDF, it may instead display a link to the article or a link to the library catalog and the ILL request form.

Screenshot of LibKey Nomad badge with green LibKey droplet logo and the words "Download PDF Reed College Library".

Special to PubMed and Wikipedia, you will find a series of icons:

Screenshot of Wikipedia references with "download PDF", "View E-Book" and "Access Options" buttons inserted after the citation.

LibKey Nomad is compatible with most scholarly publisher sites, in addition to PubMed, Google Scholar, and Wikipedia.

Give us feedback!

Do you have questions about LibKey Nomad? Found any issues or problems? Love it? Please let us know! Send a note to library@reed.edu and tell us what you think about this new tool.

Testing, testing… Is LibKey on?

During this academic year, the library is testing out a new piece of software called LibKey, and it will change some of the ways you interact with our online resources. Our goal for this year-long pilot is to see if it provides easier access to both our paid subscriptions and open access articles.

FAQ

What is LibKey?

LibKey calls their product an “active and dynamic linking technology” and it fits between you, the open web, and the library collection. 

For online articles that have a DOI or PMID number assigned to them, LibKey collates information about the article — including our subscribed journal holdings, open access status, and retraction details  — to calculate your best link to that scholarly content. 

If LibKey cannot find a direct link or if an online resource does not have a DOI or PMID, you will be immediately forwarded to our catalog to check our access options or place an ILL (Interlibrary Loan) request.

What should I expect?

You may see new link options when you search the library catalog. From your search results, you may be able to link directly to a PDF (Download PDF) and see an article in the context of a whole journal issue (View Issue Contents). You should also encounter better linking to articles available as Open Access. 

Screenshot of an Article in the Reed Library catalog, with Title, authors, publisher information. Links include "Download PDF", "View Issue Contents", and "Available Online".

When using the “Check Reed Holdings” buttons in our subscription databases, you will see improved linking options on the intermediary LibKey details page.

Screenshot showing the LibKey full text options page, with links including "Download PDF" and "Article Link"

If you add the LibKey Nomad extension to your web browser, you will be able to connect to library-subscribed content, even when searching the open web, whenever you see this badge:

LibKey badge with the LibKey logo and the text "Provided by Reed College Library"

When starting from PubMed or Wikipedia, the Nomad extension will show you which articles you have access to through Reed library subscriptions or open access. 

Screenshot of wikipedia results with LibKey access buttons inserted below the citation.

What should I do if something isn’t working?

Send an email through our Ask a Librarian form (scroll down to the Send a message section), including as much detail as you can. Screenshots are always welcome.

We will especially want to know what browser you are using, where you started your search (e.g., the library catalog, Google or Google Scholar, PubMed, etc.), and what happened.

Zine & Arts Programs

Check out the zine and arts programs that lead up to the final event in 2024, the Reed Zine Fest!

Read about the librarians behind the series of zine and art programs!

ANNOUNCEMENTS


📌 Masks are required for Reed Zine Fest. We are offering KN95 masks and a limited number of tests to attendees at the Zine Fest welcome desk.
👉 Follow @reedzinelibrary for updates!
🎨 Reed Zine Fest artwork by Portland-based artist Jax Ko.

📌 Parking: Parking is free! We suggest that you park in the West Parking lot off SE 28th Ave (parking is free).  If that lot is full, you can park in the East Parking lot and the North Parking lot. Please do not leave any valuables in plain sight. Reed College is also off the Bus lines #10, 19, and 75.

👉 Parking to Kaul Auditorium (map):

  • West Lot – If you park here you can walk around the Performing Arts Building (PAB) on the path or go through the building and take the elevator. Either option will lead you to Kaul Auditorium which will be on your left.
  • North Lot – If you park here note that you will need to cross the Canyon Bridge to get to the South Side of campus and then follow a path to Kaul. 
  • East Lot – If you park here please note that it will be a 5 to 10 minute walk across campus. While there are paths, and signage, the path is not smooth and there are slight inclines. 


ZINE FEST

✂️ Reed Zine Fest with keynote James Spooner
Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Kaul Auditorium

Reed Zine Fest is the first zine fest organized by the Reed College Library to celebrate independent publishing, DIY, and zine making. This one-day festival will feature both local community and Reedie zinesters, workshops, and a keynote by special guest James Spooner (Black Punk Now, graphic novel The High Desert, Director of the Afro-Punk Documentary and the co-founder of the Afro-Punk Festival).

Zine Fest Schedule

TimeHappeningLocation
11AMReed Zine Fest opens!Kaul Auditorium
12PMKeynote with special guest James SpoonerPAB 320
1:15PMRemembrance table for Tonya Jones, Leader of the WOC Zine Collective, collecting donations for Tonya Jones’s sonKaul Auditorium
2PMGoodbye Cruel World and Dear John: How to Write a Letter You’ll Never Send with Olivia OliviaPARC
3PMBeyond Staples: Alternative Binding Methods with Erin MoorePAB 332
7PM-11PMZINE AFTER PARTY!!! HORSEBAG, ZEROCOOL,
& MIJA!!!!!!
Reed Library Lobby

MRC Student Lunch with James Spooner (MRC students only)
Saturday, March 30, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. at the MRC

Join us for lunch at the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) featuring James Spooner, the award-winning author of the coming-of-age graphic novel memoir, “The High Desert.” Don’t miss this unique opportunity to interact with a notable author and engage in meaningful dialogue about his work! Special thanks to Lily De La Fuente the Humanities Librarian for leading and selecting The High Desert for the Fall 2023 MRC Book Club. Due to the exclusive nature of this event, registration is required, and attendance is limited to 25 students.


Support

This series of zine and arts programs is generously funded by the President’s Office, the Office of the Dean of Faculty, the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Cooley Gallery, the Office of Student Engagement, the Student Life Office, and the Library.


Past Zine & Art Programs

Crafting Funeral for Flaca: On DIY Publishing & The Power of Your Voice
Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, 4 p.m.-5 p.m. at Psych Auditorium 105

Portland-based Chicana author Emilly Prado delves into the creation process for her award-winning book Funeral for Flaca, which debuted as a handmade chapbook before it was published and expanded by the press, Future Tense Books. She’ll share the various stages of the process including writing, research, revision, and artistic collaborations, as well as the importance of self-advocacy and intersectionality in publishing, particularly for writers of marginalized identities. Plus, hear Emilly give a reading from her book, have some snacks, and get inspired for the upcoming Reed Zine Fest in March 2024! 

Risograph Workshop with Timme Lu (students only & registration-based)
Thursday, November 2, 2023, 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. at the Visual Resources Center L42

Learn Risograph printing techniques from Portland-based artist Timme Lu! Lu is a Portland-based book artist, printer, and furniture maker. They will be introducing the basics of the Risograph, a new printing duplicator in the Visual Resources Center that is available to students, and will lead an engaging group activity. Risograph printing experience is not required.

Afro-Punk Documentary Screening & virtual visit with James Spooner Thursday, February 29, 2024, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at PAB Music Room 320

Watch the award-winning documentary Afro-Punk about the Black punk experience and history of Afro-Punk in the United States. Virtually meet the Afro-Punk festival co-founder, director and author James Spooner.

Risograph Workshop with Timme Lu (students only & registration-based)
Thursday, March 21, 3 p.m.- 6 p.m. at the VRC

Learn Risograph printing techniques from Portland-based artist Timme Lu! Lu is a Portland-based book artist, printer, and furniture maker. They will be introducing the basics of the Risograph, a new printing duplicator in the Visual Resources Center that is available to students, and will lead an engaging group activity. Risograph printing experience is not required.

Drop-in RISO Printing (students only)
Mon, March 25-Fri, March 29, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. at the VRC

Need to print a zine cover or an 8-page mini zine? Drop into the VRC to print your zine cover or 8-page mini zine on the Risograph. Limited to two colors! No appointment is needed.

IPRC Tour & Zine Making Open Hours
Tue, March 26, 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. at IPRC

Looking to put the final touches on your zines just in time for the upcoming Reed Zine Fest? Join us for a tour of the Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) followed by an open-hours zine-making session (supplies provided)! Learn about the IPRC’s studio, resources, Zine Library, and programs that have supported the creative community throughout Portland for the last 25 years. Don’t miss this last-minute chance to complete your zines, learn about the IPRC, and connect with Portland’s zine community!

Printing fees will be waived for Reed College students. Masks are required at the IPRC.

Drop-in Zine Printing (students only)
Tues, March 26, 12PM-2PM at the Library Reference Desk
Wed, March 27, 12PM-2PM at the Library Reference Desk

Need to print black and white pages from your zine only? Visit the Library Reference Desk to print your zines for free. Limit on the number of copies of TBA.

Unfurling: Zines, Art, Activism and Archiving
Thurs, March 28, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. at Special Collections & Archives

Drop into the archives as we delve into the exploration of art and activism through zines, highlighting the works of Reedies, regional artists, global artists, and activists from the Reed College Special Collections and Archives.


Thesis formatting & submission

Looking for information about thesis formatting? Wondering when to submit your final thesis to the library? Learn about all things thesis in the Thesis Help 2022-2023 Guide.

You will submit your thesis for review twice; first to the Registrar (when you get your laurels) and then to the library after your Oral exam after making all corrections.

Your thesis must meet formatting requirements before it will be accepted by the library at the end of the thesis process. We recommend that you make sure your thesis is formatted correctly before you submit it to the Registrar before Orals exams. The library will reach out to students starting the week of May 1st with information about your submitted thesis and any formatting issues. If you have questions about formatting, citations, etc. you can also reserve an appointment with a librarian to chat about your thesis via the requesting help form.

If you’re not sure how to use the thesis template and want help with formatting,  make an appointment with the Reed IT help desk. 

Climate, Environment, Justice: cultivating action & resilience on Earth Day and beyond

New book display now available in the Library! Come find books centered on themes of climate justice, environmental justice, and activism.

The climate crisis stems from a lineage of colonization and is intertwined with the exploitation and harm enacted on indigenous communities and communities of color, both within the boundaries of present-day United States and around the world. This exhibit seeks to highlight not just this legacy, but also the resilience, the resistance, the activism, and the ongoing creation of new futures.

Books in the exhibit are available to check out, or you can find them in the Library’s featured digital exhibits.

Many thanks to all who contributed to making this exhibit: Lutetia Wang, Ann Matsushima Chiu, Mark McDaniel, Caroline Reul, Lin Liu, Kyle Napoli, Colleen Gotze.

Selena, Queen of Tejano: A Student-Led Zine Exhibit

Thursday April 20th 3-4:30pm
Reed Zine Library
Food & Music

Come explore in this student-led zine exhibit, how the Cumbia and Tejana musician Selena influenced Tejano music and the broader Chicano culture. In this exhibit, you will find zines, books, magazines, and records all pertaining to Latin identities and struggles by Latin creators! The overall mission of this showcase is to critically examine and expand Reed Library’s collection of Latin pieces of media in order to actively diversify the whiteness of the library’s holdings. From a curated selection of zines exposing what it is like being a mujer in society to vinyl records of Selena’s music to Chicana pop culture magazines, come learn about how Hispanic cultures and identities are expressed in art and media.

Have you ever wondered how or where you could get help with images on campus?

Wonder not – just head to the Visual Resource Center (VRC). It’s located below the main floor of the Reed Library, in Room 42. Not the IMC or the Language Lab, but an inconspicuous door right next to the seminar room. There you’ll find our team working behind the scenes, scanning and scouring museum collections for the highest-quality images.

You’ve most likely seen these images projected in class or referenced as part of an assigned reading, and we’re the ones responsible for providing them to your professors! Images are regularly added to the Reed Digital Collection (RDC) to support instruction in the art department. And as a student, you can search the collection for images to use when completing your assignments. We can also help you find the best images for presentations, publications, and theses, along with navigating the difficult realm of image citations.

Aside from academic support, we have specialized equipment for assisting with image-based projects. We have the largest scanner on campus (18″ x 24″), a transparency scanner, a photography room for documenting large 2D works, and a computer workstation with the Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

If you’ve asked yourself any of the questions below, then email us today to book an appointment:

  • How can I scan and digitize my film or artwork into a high-resolution image?
  • As a ceramist, can I make high-quality images of my ceramic works for a portfolio?
  • As a film enthusiast, can I convert my beautiful photographs into digital facsimiles?
  • Can I use the large scanner and Photoshop to complete a mixed-media work?
  • Where can I get some free Cheez-Its? That’s right. You read that correctly.

And, if you’re still not sold on the utility of the VRC, you should remember that the VRC is located in Room 42, and, you should also remember that the number 42 is significant in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Now, we aren’t claiming that the VRC has the answer to “the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything,” but we do have a fair number of useful resources that remain available to the Reed community when needing to answer a few, very specific questions that relate to life as a Reedie – the significance of that coincidence is left for you to decide.

Check out the VRC’s history and find a complete list of services and equipment at Reed.edu/VRC.

This blog post was co-written by Visual Resources Assistant and Art History major Andee Gude ’26.