What is LibKey Nomad?
LibKey Nomad is a browser extension that connects users from article and book chapter citations found on scholarly webpages to the full text article. LibKey Nomad accelerates workflow, helps users avoid unnecessary paywalls, and seamlessly integrates into browsers. LibKey Nomad is available via an annual fee paid by the subscribing institution and may be used by anyone authorized by the institution to access library resources.
What browsers does LibKey Nomad support?
LibKey Nomad supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi.
How do you install Nomad?
An individual may use LibKey Nomad by going to appropriate extension store, searching for "LibKey Nomad," then installing the extension. Or, simply go to https://libkeynomad.com LibKey Nomad page. Installation and setup is quick and easy. Simply download and install the extension, choose your supported institution and start browsing!
May IT departments deploy LibKey Nomad across networked computers via Microsoft Group Policy?
Yes. This is the recommended deployment method and leading hospitals, universities, companies, and government agencies have used group policy to install LibKey Nomad across hundreds of thousands of their computers. Read about the experiences Ochsner Health and Chesterfield Royal Hospital had deploying LibKey Nomad and the results they saw at their institutions. Instructions to deploy LibKey Nomad using Group Policy are available here::How is security and privacy ensured?
- No user accounts are needed, users never provide personal information
- LibKey Nomad does not cache user credentials for the SSO, proxy server, or other services. LibKey Nomad simply forward links, any authentication and access to subscribed resources is managed by the organization
- LibKey Nomad is active only on specific domains, such as supported publisher pages like wiley.com and sites researchers frequently visit looking for scholarly and medical content, such as PubMed and Wikipedia. When active on specific domains, LibKey Nomad runs scripts in the browser that look for unique article identifiers, such as DOIs and PMIDs, then sends the identifier information to our LibKey API service. The API returns linking information to forward the user to the article of interest LibKey is inactive on any other site.
- LibKey Nomad is compliant with Cross-Origin Read Blocking (CORB), the web security platform feature that helps mitigate the threat of side-channel attacks. As explained here, CORB is designed to "prevent the browser from delivering certain cross-origin network responses to a web page, when they might contain sensitive information and are not needed for existing web features."
How are updates pushed out to Nomad end users?
Software updates are released through the extension stores. Third Iron monitors release alerts from the browser providers to ensure visibility into the submission and release process. No user action is needed to update the LibKey Nomad browser extension.
When I install the extension I'm warned by Google Chrome that the extension can "Read and change all your data on the websites you visit". This sounds concerning. What does this mean?
No. LibKey Nomad and all subsequent software updates are thoroughly tested on all supported browsers to avoid conflicts with other software and to ensure the extension works seamlessly within the browser.
Third Iron fully supports LibKey Nomad. If there are any questions about LibKey Nomad before, during, or after the group installation process, Third Iron will provide timely and thorough support via email and phone, available at support@thirdiron.com or 855-649-7607.
You can read our more general overview and FAQ on LibKey Nomad here.
