The library started with the first director's personal collection of 118 books and reports. Today we have a print collection of nearly 70,000 items plus millions of eBooks, articles, papers, reports, standards and more accessible from any connected device. 

VDOT has had a library since 1945? Who knew!?

This slide deck above will be running at the upcoming Garver Leadership Conference, but we wanted to share it more widely. If you've used the library and found it helpful please share this article with a friend at VDOT who might also benefit.

Why? Even folks who know about the library might not realize it is for EVERY VDOT EMPLOYEE. Equally important, the library is 100% virtual these days. What that means is you don't have to come to the library to take advantage of its many collections and services. They are all virtual and self-paced... so the ball is in your court!

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE VDOT RESEARCH LIBRARY:

 

Exam Study Collections:  The library has systematically built up P.E. and other exam study collections. Today we have more than 500 volumes of material to help VDOT employees study for (and pass!) the FE, PE, PMP, FS, PS, PTOE, PTP and RSP certifications.

FREE OnlineSubscriptions:  Last year VDOT employees downloaded 15,390 electronic documents available from more than 20 full-text online databases the library manages for self-service VDOT employee access. 

After all, our job is to help you do your job!

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

With 'Single Sign On' you can get ASTM standards with one click. Watch this how-to video or simply click to try it now!

Sometimes less is more...and that has got to be the case with passwords!

In an effort to make life a little easier for busy VDOT employees the VDOT Research Library has configured its #1 subscription database — perennial favorite ASTM Compass — to work using Okta and "Single Sign On" (SSO) authentication.
 

Translation: If you're on the VDOT network, and you click a link to ASTM Compass, you will now get in with no further password prompts!

In fact, returning ASTM users will be recognized back "by name" with all your favorites, recently accessed standards and tracked documents right where you left them. How great is that? 

This could be a huge time saver for frequent users of ASTM Compass, which provides more than 13,000 standards from ASTM, AASHTO and other standards issuing organizations, not to mention close to 3,000 manuals, monographs and reports, and 45,000 papers and articles. 

How does it work for new or first-time users? 
If you are already on the VDOT network, the first thing you'll see when you enter ASTM Compass is a partial user profile recognizing VDOT as your agency as well as your VDOT e-mail address. Complete your profile by inserting your first and last name (you will only see this screen one time) and click "save" as shown here:

What happens if I try to access ASTM Compass from a device off the VDOT network? (like  a home PC, personal device or VDOT device without VPN)
Like all Okta-enabled applications, you'll be prompted for your VDOT network credentials so you can be recognized and authorized. The Okta sign-in screen looks like this: 

If you frequently use the Okta "My Apps" page you'll notice a link to ASTM Compass there as well, as shown below. One click takes you right in to ASTM Compass from that page as well: 

Finally, you may want to add a bookmark ASTM Compass to your favorite browser, or you might want to share a link to ASTM Compass with a friend at VDOT.  We hope you do!  Use this URL: https://library.virginiadot.org/resources/astm

For questions or support see this ASTM Compass Quick-Start Guide. 

Or get in touch with a librarian...we're here to help!

​

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

TRID helps you search smarter by focusing on 1.4 million books, papers and reports specific to transportation, about 30% of which have links to full text.

Do you use the TRID Database for your research and information needs at VDOT?

If not, you could be overlooking a resource that can "out-Google" Google when it comes to peer-reviewed, credible and current information needed by transportation professionals, including not just RESEARCH but the stuff that helps practitioners and folks in the field.

TRID was developed with sponsorship by State Departments of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), relevant federal agencies, and other sponsors of TRB's core technical activities. Translation: It was built for YOU!

TRID can help you locate solutions to problems, avoid accidental duplication, save your time and VDOT's money, and help you to capitalize on the latest innovations whether they are being implemented in the state next door or an overseas country. Combine TRID with the VDOT Research Library and you've got an unbeatable combo. 

FREE TRID WEBINAR: TRB will host a webinar on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern to help you understand what is in TRID, how to use its search functions and to teach you ways to find the most relevant publications and other products from transportation research projects. There is no fee, but registration through the MyTRB portal (also free) is required. Even if you might not be able to make it, I still recommend you sign up since a self-paced recording will be sent to all registrants after the webinar.

Agenda and presenters: The first 40 minutes of the webinar will be for presentations and the final 20 minutes will be reserved for audience questions.

1. Content presented by Bill McLeod, Transportation Research Board
2. Q&A session moderated by John Cherney, Wisconsin Department of Transportation

Learning Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Start transportation research with TRID
2. Run basic and advanced searches to locate the most relevant information for your project
3. Save, email, and/or export results

If you need help getting started with your research visit the Library web page, where you'll find research guides, FAQs, instructional videos and best of all, librarians who can help. 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

With 'Single Sign On' you can get ASTM standards with one click. Watch this how-to video or simply click to try it now!

Sometimes less is more...and that has got to be the case with passwords!

In an effort to make life a little easier for busy VDOT employees the VDOT Research Library has configured its #1 subscription database — perennial favorite ASTM Compass — to work using Okta and "Single Sign On" (SSO) authentication.
 

Translation: If you're on the VDOT network, and you click a link to ASTM Compass, you will now get in with no further password prompts!

In fact, returning ASTM users will be recognized back "by name" with all your favorites, recently accessed standards and tracked documents right where you left them. How great is that? 

This could be a huge time saver for frequent users of ASTM Compass, which provides more than 13,000 standards from ASTM, AASHTO and other standards issuing organizations, not to mention close to 3,000 manuals, monographs and reports, and 45,000 papers and articles. 

How does it work for new or first-time users? 
If you are already on the VDOT network, the first thing you'll see when you enter ASTM Compass is a partial user profile recognizing VDOT as your agency as well as your VDOT e-mail address. Complete your profile by inserting your first and last name (you will only see this screen one time) and click "save" as shown here:

What happens if I try to access ASTM Compass from a device off the VDOT network? (like  a home PC, personal device or VDOT device without VPN)
Like all Okta-enabled applications, you'll be prompted for your VDOT network credentials so you can be recognized and authorized. The Okta sign-in screen looks like this: 

If you frequently use the Okta "My Apps" page you'll notice a link to ASTM Compass there as well, as shown below. One click takes you right in to ASTM Compass from that page as well: 

Finally, you may want to add a bookmark ASTM Compass to your favorite browser, or you might want to share a link to ASTM Compass with a friend at VDOT.  We hope you do!  Use this URL: https://library.virginiadot.org/resources/astm

For questions or support see this ASTM Compass Quick-Start Guide. 

Or get in touch with a librarian...we're here to help!

​

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

Compass Points lets you create and share a "persistent link" to data in any ASTM Compass standard. Learn more at this Webinar.
 

ASTM Compass users at VDOT are invited... to a FREE webinar that includes a live demonstration of the new "Compass Points" enhancement (for the ASTM Compass database) on January 18, 2023 at 2:00pm EST (GMT -5). Discover how this easy-to-use tool can help you track specific portions of standards that are critical to your daily workflow at VDOT. Compass Points creates a unique URL that you can share with VDOT co-workers via e-mail or a host of other online tools. The URL serves as a permanent path back to the specific data you highlight, in the specific version of the standard of your choice...and that special URL will last as long as you want it to!  Compass Points give smart users the ability to pinpoint important components in standards, building a "breadcrumb trail" to that source data for multiple purposes — it’s an easy-to-adopt step toward smarter standards use that helps you gain time back into your busy schedule. Compass Points enable users to constantly track any changes to the most relevant portions of their favorite standards. Reduce the time needed tracking the data for audits, or lookbacks. Data integrity is maintained during development to help reduce turnbacks because your company always has a connection to the authoritative source with your custom Compass Point.

January 18, 2023 Ι 2:00 PM EST (GMT -5)

During this webinar ASTM will demonstrate how to:

Create a Compass Point Edit, View, and Deactivate a Compass Point Add Diffs/Overlays/Exceptions/Departures Share a Compass Point Move a Compass Point from a previous standard to an updated standard Access your entire list of Compass Points   Session includes a Q&A portion. REGISTER NOW

New to transportation research or to even to VDOT? The VDOT Research Library is here to help!

We have a wealth of self-paced online resources, including this ASTM Compass Quick-Start Guide. 
 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

To receive e-mail alerts for VDOT's Statewide VDOT News Releases click "Subscribe Now" (shown above) and follow the steps to register.

Want to keep up with VDOT News Releases but keep forgetting to visit VDOT's Statewide Press Release site?  Or maybe the super helpful (and focused) RSS feeds made available by VDOT many moons ago are simply not your style? 

RSS is a solid technology, but not as popular as it was back in the day, and while those feeds are still an awesome way to read, manage, and navigate online information (and far more "granular" than what's shown here) the almighty e-mail still reigns supreme for many of us! 

So when I discovered this simple hack to route VDOT Statewide News Releases directly to e-mail (anyone, not just VDOT employees) I thought I'd test it and share the results. Since it works so well, I'll lay out the steps here for you to test, if you want:  

Step 1: Got to the Statewide News Releases page: https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/newsroom/statewide and click on the button that says "Subscribe Now" 

Step 2: You should see an online form that looks like this. Fill it out with your contact information and preferred e-mail address, and click the "Sign Up" button: 

The fine print on this screen is standard opt-in/opt-out verbiage, reading: "By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA, 23219 United States. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Step 3: If you filled out all the required fields and clicked "Sign Up" this message should appear on the screen:

Step 4: Next, go to your e-mail in box and you'll see an automated message that looks like this: 

That's all there is to it!

Step 5: The next time a new Statewide News Release is produced by VDOT Communications it should appear directly in your e-mail inbox! Here's an example of a release sent that way to a VDOT Gmail account. Note that all such messages (about 30-40 a year) currently appear under the "Updates" tab in Gmail: 

Lastly, click on the message and read away!

What's the Catch You Ask? Not so much a catch, but a limitation perhaps...

At this time the e-mail subscription option is only available for "statewide" news releases, not releases focused on a specific VDOT district.

However, if you are comfortable with RSS Feeds, the fine folks in VDOT Communications have given you lots of RSS feed options for news releases and travel alerts by district, not to mention Real time traffic alerts by Region and Statewide Public Involvement Notices. 

​

Need a hand? Feel free to contact the library. 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

This short video demonstrates how you can access materials in the trial. Please take a look and share your feedback with us via this ANONYMOUS SURVEY! 

All month the VDOT Research Library has been conducting a "trial" of four new subject collections in the Knovel full-text eBook database. 

The month is nearly over, and when it ends, so will our trial access to more than 1,400 eBooks. 

So this is the LAST CALL if you use Knovel to comment on the potential value of these collections by participating in this BRIEF SURVEY. 

The collections (click categories below for more info.) would greatly expand the traditional engineering content that has made Knovel a perennial favorite of VDOT employees since 2011.  In order for us to fully assess the relevance of these resources to you and your role at VDOT, we need your feedback!

The trial categories are:   

So if you work at VDOT and have used Knovel before, or you have any interest or expertise in the subject areas shown above, please spend a few minutes poking around the database and looking at the contents of some of the eBooks on these subjects...then share your feedback with us.  Follow these simple steps.

First, access Knovel and explore resources in any of the four trial collections shown above. If you have never used Knovel and need a hand, please consult this Quick-Start Guide. 

Next, after you've explored Knovel (especially the new content categories!) please respond to this this BRIEF SURVEY. 

Questions? We're here to help!

​

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

This short video shows how you can access materials in the trial and share your feedback with this anonymous survey. 

​The VDOT Research Library has maintained a subscription to Knovel (a full-text eBook database) since 2011, focusing on Civil and Transportation engineering collections. But as we try to support VDOT of Tomorrow  more "comprehensively" the library is considering an expansion VDOT's Knovel subscription that would nearly double its size!
 

For the month of November 2022, we'll be conducting a "trial" (watch this short VIDEO for more details). The trial will provide VDOT employees with unlimited 30-day access to resources in 4 new subject collections. That will include unlimited viewing, printing, downloading and sharing (within Knovel's guidelines) of information from books in the trial collections, which are listed below (click to expand for a full description):
 

To help us decide how useful these collections are to VDOT the library is administering a brief user-satisfaction survey. We encourage VDOT employees with interest and/or expertise in subject areas above to explore Knovel, review books of relevance, and provide us with feedback on your experience. Please follow these simple steps:
 

1. Access Knovel and explore resources in the four trial collections shown above. If you have never used Knovel, please consult this Quick-Start Guide. 

2. After exploring Knovel (especially the new content listed above!) take a 2-minute survey. 

We hope you will also forward information about the trial to VDOT colleagues who have expertise or interest in the subjects listed above.

Please get in touch if you have any questions along the way!

​

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

With 30,000 new records added a week, Compendex is the gold standard for peer-reviewed research on engineering topics of interest.

Compendex (sometimes called Ei Compendex) is widely regarded as the most currrent and most comprehensive engineering literature database available today, with 190 distinct engineering disciplines and more than 20 million records selected by professional indexers. 

Translation: If you need to search with confidence for engineering research that is relevant, accurate and of exceptional quality, Compendex is your new secret weapon!

While some VDOT employees and research scientists may use it frequently, the name "Compendex" may be less familiar if you've been out of school for a while.  Or, you may remember it by the name of the search interface it utilizes, which is called "Engineering Village."

To help clear up confusion and get you started on the right foot, we put together this handy Compendex Quick-Start Guide, which covers the basic search features, tips for reading a full-record display screen, and most importantly, how to link from a promising citation to the full-text document, a process that may transfer you to one of a dozen or more other VDOT subscriptions. 

Bottom line, whatever kind of engineering you need information about, you can find it in Compendex. And by following the instructions and instructional videos in our new guide, you stand a great chance of being transferred with a couple clicks from the perfect citation to a paper offering solutions to your precise engineering challenge, from other resources VDOT has a subscription to, such as: Transportation Research Record, ACI Structural or Materials journals, ASCE Journals, ASTM journals, ICE Journals, Knovel or similar engineering resources.

On the off chance that you can't connect to the full-text you need, please don't forget that any citation to a published work you CAN'T find the full text of quickly, you can always toss our way for fulfillment. We find, download and deliver hundreds and hundreds of articles and papers to busy VDOT employees every single year. 

We suggest you use this online document request form, but you could call, e-mail, or even live chat with us to place your request! 

The key thing to know is that you never have to visit the library in person to benefit. Our databases are online, our subscriptions are online and WE are online...because YOU are online! 
 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

Check out the TRID database today. Give it a test drive if you haven't already, and complete this brief online survey with your suggestions for improvement. 

Sorry for our late notice, but please be advised that TRB is making a TRID User Satisfaction Survey available, but that survey closes September 30^th 
 

The survey should only take a few minutes and has three objectives:

1.       To understand who uses the TRID database and what they use it for;

2.       To determine user satisfaction levels; and

3.       To gather suggestions for possible short- and long-term enhancements to the TRID Database.

To get started, go to:  https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6892832/2022-TRID-Survey

TRID is an integrated database that combines the records from TRB’s Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Database and the OECD’s Joint Transport Research Centre’s International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) Database, for a total of 1.3 million records of transportation research worldwide.

It covers all modes and disciplines related to transportation, and contains close to 350,000 links to full text. 

Of course, any citation you find in TRID that does not have a link to full text is probably either already in the collections of the VDOT Research Library, or it is something we can deliver to you free of charge in 1-2 weeks through our Interlibrary Loans & Document Delivery program.   

That goes for scholarly articles, trade articles, books, conference proceedings papers, and on and on. 

If you have questions about TRID or the survey, please contact:

Bill McLeod

TRIS Manager - Transportation Research Information Services
Transportation Research Board
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
Email: wmcleod@nas.edu | Phone: 202-334-2947