While you study abroad, you still have access to the Vassar College Libraries! Your program’s library will be your first resource for research help and access to materials, but there are many Vassar library services that you may use no matter where in the world you are.
If you have a question about your research, or about any of the services mentioned on this page, visit Ask a Librarian. You can:
When you chat with us or fill out the consultation form to schedule an appointment, please let us know that you're studying abroad and where you are located.
Vassar's librarians are always happy to hear from students studying abroad! We can help you as we would if you were on campus: by talking through your topic, assisting with search strategies, identifying a variety of relevant materials, and providing guidance on citing sources. We can also help you find Vassar resources (e.g., online databases and journals, ebooks, etc.) that complement what's available through your program's library.
To access our library databases and other online resources from abroad, log in through the Connect from Off-Campus page, using your Vassar username and password. Use the links below to identify what's available, or Ask a Librarian for assistance.
Your program's library may provide an interlibrary loan (ILL) service (sometimes called "resource sharing"). If you need print books that aren't available at your library, use the local ILL service.
Although the Vassar Libraries cannot send you print books directly, you may use our ILLiad system to request scans of journal articles or book chapters (not entire books!), which will be emailed to you as PDFs. In the "notes" section of the form, let us know that you are studying abroad. If you have limited internet access or are unable to view PDFs, please include your mailing address or a fax number so that we can mail/send your scans.
Zotero is a citation management tool that will help you stay organized while you work on papers and research projects. (This is especially helpful if you plan to continue with this research when you're back at Vassar!) Check out our Intro to Zotero page or the Zotero Quick Start Guide to create an account and start using Zotero, and don't hesitate to Ask a Librarian if you have any questions.
We hope you have an opportunity to explore libraries and archives during your study abroad experience. You may find some similarities between the Vassar College Libraries and other academic libraries around the world...or, depending on where you travel, you may find that our libraries have intriguing differences!
Vassar's librarians may be able to help you navigate your program's library, but we won't know nearly as much as they do about their collections and services. If you have questions about the inner workings of your program's library or what is available to you as a student, your best bet is to talk to librarians and staff there, or to visit the library's website.
