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Library Support for Distance Education/Online Students -- General Information

What does Montgomery Library Provide?

Phone and Online Assisstance

Your primary contact is Sandra Riggs, Electronic Resources Librarian, (270) 789-5390, seriggs@campbellsville.edu. Any other library staff may assist you as well.  See the main phone and e-mail information below:

Main Library number: (270) 789-5024
General Reference E-mail Address: libraryhelp@campbellsville.edu

Off-Campus Access to Electronic Resources

We provide a Montgomery Library User ID and Password.  This is NOT the same as your online class login, or your CU ID. You can obtain the login information from library staff at the above contact information. Also, many times your instructor will have the information.

Training Sessions Scheduled by the Instructor for some Locations

If you take classes at the Louisville Center, or at Somerset Community College, your instructor can schedule a time for a librarian from the main campus to come visit your class.

How do I get to the Electronic Resources from Off-Campus?

We suggest starting at the Database Page at http://www.campbellsville.edu/library/databases.asp.
Select any off campus database link, and you will be directed to our proxy login screen. See below:

What Computer Equipment or Software do I need?

All distance/online students need to have access to a computer with Internet service, whether it is your own, or one at a campus computer lab. When purchasing a computer, processor speed is more important than storage space.  You can get extra storage space later, but processor speed will help your computer run better. 

• If you have your own computer, we at Montgomery Library strongly suggest that you invest in DSL or Broadband Internet service, as an educational expense.  Researching with a dial-up can be a slow, frustrating experience.  Many students initially say that they won't mind a wait, and are very hesitant to pay for Broadband.  However, our experience is that once you start experiencing deadlines and start heavy use, you will find that slow connections can lead to time-outs, printer errors and other technical issues.


• Many databases use a file type type called PDF that requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Reader usually is pre-installed on most new computers. If you don't have Reader, you can download it free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Don't forget to run the installation after the download.


• You will need a standard web browser program, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox or Safari. Do not use specialized browsers that are a part of your Internet Service window. For example, don't use a dedicated AOL window. It will not be able to access the databases because of conflicts with the proxy server.

What special settings or steps are required?

• Turn off pop-up blockers while doing research. Many databases use pop-up windows to display information.
• Always start research in a fresh browser window. Don't work in "windows within windows."

Issues for Apple Users

• The Apple Preview program will work for viewing PDF files.  However, there may be rare instances when the margins are not normal, and printing is a bit easier using the Adobe Reader application.  Also, many of the databases will not be able to pull the Preview viewer into their window.  This means that a separate window for the Preview application will load when you click on a PDF file.  Moving between that window and the database window can be a bit confusing.  So yes, you can use Apple Preview without downloading Adobe Reader, but if you have the space on your computer, downloading Adobe Reader is a simpler solution.

• When you run into trouble, use the Apple Support website.  The Apple discussion board is particularly helpful.

Section Updated: 12 March 2008, 1:42 p.m. EST