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Access Science: Using Access Science

The guide will help you use Access Science database located in Alabama Virtual Library (AVL).

Using Alabama Virtual Library

Articles can be accessed through Alabama Virtual Library. Below are the ways to access Alabama Virtual Library.


  • To access AVL on-campus, simply use any campus-based computer.
  • To access AVL off-campus, please fill out the online registration form to register for a username and password.*

    AVL Registration Form

 Any registration form received outside of the following hours will be processed the next business day. 

Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Friday 8:00 am - 2:30 pm

Sunday 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm


* Note: Alabama Virtual Library will send you an email with your login information shortly. For immediate use, the library staff will email you temporary credentials to use. The temporary credentials will expire after two weeks.


Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) resources are available to students on and off campus. Students enrolled in a collage or university cannot directly submit registration form to the Alabama Public Library System (APLS) for AVL access and passwords. To receive off campus access to AVL resources, you must complete a registration form through the CVCC library during the following hours:

Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Friday 8:00 am - 2:30 pm

Sunday 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

The registration form for AVL access can be found on the LRC's webpage under library forms or use the following link: Alabama Virtual Library Registration Form.

If a form is submitted outside the above times, or during campus closures, the library staff will submit the form to the Alabama Virtual library the following business day. All requests to remote (off-campus) AVL access must be submitted by CVCC library staff.

NOTE: The APLS is responsible for maintaining the website, databases, and assigning passwords not CVCC. If there are delays in receiving passwords after the students have submitted the request form, or if there are problems logging onto the AVL website, student need to contact the Alabama Virtual Library's helpdesk at Alabama Virtual Library Helpdesk.

The CVCC Library

Hours of Operation

Monday

8:00am - 8:00pm

Tuesday

8:00am - 8:00pm

Wednesday

8:00am - 8:00pm

Thursday

8:00am - 8:00pm

Friday 8:00am - 2:30pm
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday CLOSED
Holidays CLOSED

Check the NEWS AND MESSAGES section on the Home Tab of the library's online catalog for changes or additional closures or check the library's online calendar listed on our online catalog or our Owen Hall guide.

Using Access Science

To access Access Science: 

From the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Homepage, click “All Resources” at the top of the page.

Then scroll through the list and choose Access Science.

The homepage will open up and look like this:


This database is an authoritative and dynamic online resource that contains incisively written, high-quality reference material covering all major scientific disciplines. An award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, it offers links to primary research material, videos and exclusive animations, plus specially designed curriculum maps for teachers. With these and other online features, AccessScience is continually expanding the ways it can demonstrate and explain core, trustworthy scientific information that inspires and guides users to deeper knowledge.

You can search by keyword, subject, publication title, or entire document. Access Science lists several subjects pertaining to science that can help you narrow your search which are located on the Home page. For an example, I am going to search “Hurricane.” The results page will look like this:



The blue hyperlinks will take you directly to the article. The title of the publication, the date, and a brief snippet will be listed for each article.


The toolbar shown above will be at the left side of the screen. With it you can limit the search results based on other subjects. This is a useful tool for when your search brings back too many results. It will help you narrow your information down to what you need.

When you find an article you want to view, click on it, and it will open up in a window that looks like this:


The picture above shows how the article will appear in Access Science. The title of the article, authors, source and date will be listed at the top of the page. At the top right is a tool box that allows you to print, email, cite, save to a folder (Access Science account needed), get a link, and share to various social media platforms.

On the right side of the article, there will be content that is related to the article. Such as in the picture above, some related content maybe be, but not limited to the following: related articles, related media, related projects, and related biographies.

We hope that this tutorial will help you with your use of Access Science. If you have any questions, please ask us at the Access Services Desk inside the Owen Hall Library & Learning Resource Center or click on the Contact Us tab above.