Skip to Main Content

Off-Campus and Online Users

Learn how MSU students, faculty, and staff can access library materials away from campus

As you navigate library pages you may need to use your StarID information to access resourceslibrary login screen.

Current students, faculty, and staff need to use a two-step process when asked to log into online library resources.

  1. On the Microsoft login screen, enter your StarID email address and StarID password.
    • For students, the StarID email address looks like: xx1234xx@go.minnstate.edu
    • For employees, the StarID email address looks like: xx1234xx@minnstate.edu
  2. You will then be prompted to provide additional information by responding to a text message, phone call, or through the Microsoft Authenticator App.

This multi-factor authentication is the same process used to log into MavMail or Microsoft 365 and it increases the security of your information. If you are already logged into one of these accounts on your browser, you may directly access the library database without logging in again. Searching MavScholar, our library catalog, does not require a login; however, clicking links to access full text or media will require a login.

Access to most online library resources is limited to current students, faculty, and staff. Community residents and alumni can use designated computers in Memorial Library to access online resources.

If you have questions about logging in to library resources using multi-factor authentication, contact library staff via our Ask a Librarian service.

Alternative Login Screen

Some resources use our previous login process. Previous Login ScreenIf the login screen starts with Access Library Electronic Resources..., use your StarID without the @go.minnstate.edu or minnstate.edu. 

If you receive an error that states your credentials are not recognized, login using our new multi-factor authentication (MFA) and try to access the resource again. If the problem persists, contact library staff via using Ask a Librarian service.

Connect Websites to Our Journal Subscriptions

Quickly connect to articles from websites like Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, and Wikipedia by adding the LibKey Nomad extension to your favorite browser.

LibKey Nomad adds buttons to access library related items

Basic Troubleshooting Tips & Tricks

Try clearing the browser's cache.

If you need help doing this, see the troubleshooting steps.

This can sometimes help resolve access problems for resources that recently updated their URL. Browsers will sometimes hold onto the old URL - this is usually done as a convenience so the website will load faster the next time you visit it. However, this can cause issues if the resource's URL has been recently updated. Clearing your cache will get rid of the outdated information and allow your browser to process the new information successfully.

Go Incognito (Private Browsing)

If you are not comfortable with clearing your browser's cache, private browsing can be a secondary option. Once in a private browsing window, proceed with accessing content like normal. Please note that this is only a temporary fix compared to actually clearing your browser's cache.

Change Your StarID Password

This can resolve log-in problems when trying to authenticate through EZproxy. If you are still experiencing problems when trying to login-in, contact IT Solutions.

Refresh the Item Record in your Browser

If you are not seeing the Available Online access option in an item's MavScholar record, sometimes refreshing the webpage will fix the issue. If this doesn't work for you, please email eraccess@mnsu.edu and provide a permalink to the example you encountered for further investigation.

Ask a Librarian

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
.