Library Skills Tutorial

The Library Web Page - Alabama Virtual Library

The Alabama Virtual Library link connects you to the Alabama Virtual Library. The Alabama Virtual Library is an innovative service that provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the state of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources. It consists primarily of a group of online databases that have magazine, journal, and newspaper articles for research, and a selection of full-text reference materials such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and biographical resources. The goal of AVL is to provide an equitable core of information sources to every student and citizen in Alabama, raising the core of excellence in schools and communities across the state. AVL is paid for through an annual state appropriation of approximately $3 million.

Remote access to the Alabama Virtual Library is provided as a service to individual residents of Alabama who obtain an AVL card. Alabama public libraries may issue AVL cards to Alabama residents who meet criteria for residency and eligibility for a public library card. Alabama public K-12 school systems and public community colleges may issue AVL cards to their students, faculty, and employees. Alabama public four-year colleges and universities may authenticate users for access to AVL databases through their own secure campus networks.

You will learn more about accessing electronic databases from a remote site as you continue through this tutorial.

If you enjoy the benefits that Alabama Virtual Library brings to your school, college, library and home, please take a few minutes to thank your local legislators for providing this resources for the state of Alabama.