Welcome to Lean Library – Your Smart Research Assistant!

The VGU Library is excited to introduce Lean Library, a powerful browser extension designed to streamline your access to academic resources. Whether you’re on or off campus, Lean Library ensures seamless access to VGU’s subscribed databases, journals, and e-books without unnecessary paywalls or complicated login processes.

Why Use Lean Library?

Lean Library is an essential tool for researchers, students, and faculty members who want quick and reliable access to academic content. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Instant Access to Full-text Articles – The Access feature allows you to quickly identify and access publisher websites and e-resources available through VGU library. When browsing the internet for an article or visiting a publisher’s website off-campus, you might be unaware of which materials you have access to. The Lean Library Access extension helps by detecting your access rights and displaying a pop-up, enabling instant off-campus access.
  • Seamless Organizational Login – When you visit a website that requires an organizational login, Lean Library will automatically prompt you to log in to your VGU account to save time. This ensures you receive useful guidance and announcements for a seamless research experience.
  • Alternatives – When an article or eBook is not directly available through the VGU Library, the extension automatically checks if it is accessible through another licensed source and redirects you. If no licensed version is found, it searches for a legal Open Access version. In case neither option is available, the extension can guide you to request the material through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
  • Time-saving & User-friendly – No need to navigate multiple websites or search manually for institutional login pages.

Find out more by watching this short video which explains how the extension works.

Additional Features

  • Highlight & Search: Easily highlight a word or phrase and right-click to search for more details. Lean Library Access integrates with your library’s database and other sources to enhance your search results. Find more details here
  • Google Scholar & PubMed: When enabled and configured by your institution, the Lean Library extension enhances searches on Google Scholar and PubMed. It prioritizes your library’s licensed full texts in search results, ensuring easier access to available resources.
  • Scite.ai: Integrated with Scite.ai, the extension provides instant insights into how a scientific article has been cited and whether it has been supported or disputed by other studies.
  • ToC Alert: While browsing Google Scholar, you can click the ToC Alert button next to an article to subscribe to “Table of Contents alerts” (ToC Alerts). This feature notifies you when new articles from a specific journal are published. Read more here.

Click here to find out more about the extension settings and how you can customise your experience with Lean Library 

How to Get Started?

  1. Download & Install: Add the Lean Library browser extension to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari at leanlibrary.com/download
  2. Select Your Institution: Choose Vietnamese-German University (VGU) when prompted.
  3. Enjoy Effortless Research: Lean Library will automatically provide access to VGU’s resources whenever you search for academic content.

Need Help?

For any assistance, feel free to contact VGU Library via email at library@vgu.edu.vn or visit our help desk.

Start using Lean Library today and make your research journey smoother than ever!