Occasionally while browsing you might see the Lean Library extension appearing where you wouldn't expect it to. The pop-up might notify you that you have access to a resource elsewhere, even when you're not looking for that resource. This article explains why this happens, and what you can do about it.
Why is Lean Library appearing on this unrelated page?
Lean Library works by scanning the sites you land on and looking for unique identifiers like DOIs or ISBNs, which it then uses to locate matching resources in your library's holdings. Most commonly you will encounter these identifiers in places like Google Scholar, publisher websites, or your library's discovery system, and Lean Library will seamlessly connect you to the resource you're looking for. However, it's possible you might encounter them in unexpected places, like blog posts or news articles. It's even possible (though very unlikely) that totally unconnected numbers - like telephone numbers or form IDs - might coincidentally match such an identifier. When this happens, it's possible that Lean Library might show you a pop-up that isn't helpful.
What can I do about this?
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to prevent Lean Library appearing in places where it's not helpful:
- Toggle the extension off on this domain: in the Lean Library pop-up, there is a toggle underneath the main message labelled "allow pop-ups on this domain". Toggling this off will keep Lean Library active, but prevent it from showing up again on the particular website you are visiting.
- Toggle the extension off completely: there is a second toggle at the top of the pop-up, next to the Settings icon (⚙️). Toggling this off will deactivate Lean Library on all websites until you toggle it on again.
- Reach out to your library: if you are having issues with one site in particular, your librarian may be able to help you and your fellow students by blocking the extension on that domain for everyone.