The library provides access to a wide range of electonic resources which can be accessed on- and off-campus.Off-campus access is restricted to CSIR staff only. With our MyDiscovery, CSIR A-Z eresources list, or eJournals & eBooks Finder you have access to all our resources while off campus without using VPN, you will be required to log in with your CSIR LAN details. By doing this, you agree to the terms and conditions of using our electronic resources.
The CSIR subscribes to a variety of electronic resources that support research activities, they are governed by strict license and contract agreements. Authorized users must abide by the Copyright Act of 1978 as well as by any contractual restrictions, copyright restrictions, or other restrictions provided by publishers and specified in the Databases or Services.
Authorized users may:
The following is prohibited:
Use of Subscribed Products in combination with an AI tool (including to train an algorithm, test, process, analyse or develop any form of AI tool); Such use should be authorised by the CSIR and the publisher.
Inappropriate use may result in publishers blocking access or termination for the entire organization.
Shibboleth – Some databases databases (see list below) allow you to login using Institutional Login (Shibboleth). Where activated this option allows you to login with your CSIR LAN details. In some cases you may need to select your regional federation (South African Identity Federation – SAFIRE) from the drop-down list and then select your institution. These resources are marked with 
on the A-Z list
Register for a personal account while on campus or connected via VPN, your profile will be automatically affiliated with CSIR, and you will be able to access our licensed content by logging in to that database for 60/90 days. Your affiliation will renew for another 60/90-day period each time you log in to your account while connected to CSIR network.
You can pair a laptop, tablet or smartphone for off-campus access by connecting to a CSIR network and follow the database specific instructions. Devices stay paired for 4 months but can be renewed for longer periods by reconnecting to the CSIR network.
CASA enables you to access our licensed content off-campus. It builds on Google Scholar’s Subscriber Links program; when a you visits Google Scholar while on campus or connected to VPN, it will remember your affiliation. Then, when away from campus, you will continue to have access to licensed content that’s searched through Google Scholar.
Important: You will be required to periodically refresh your CASA affiliation by visiting Google Scholar from an on-campus location.
You do not need a Google account or to sign in to one to use this service, however, if you visit Google Scholar on campus while signing into Gmail, Google Scholar will create an affiliation between your institution and all your devices captured in your Gmail account. CASA will work across your multiple devices when you visit Google Scholar while logging into Gmail.
How to check if CASA is activated on your device?
On Google Scholar settings, click on account and “signed-in off-campus access links” must be ticked
Use the link below to report any access issues you are experiencing, include as much detail as possible.