LIBRARY SYSTEMS DOWNTIME (13-14 December 2012): Having problems connecting to our e-resources? Consult this list for details on how to link out to our subscribed databases and e-book collections.

Contents

Summary

2 ways to access e-resources:

Automatic Recognition

Login via Shibboleth (UK Federation)

How to amend your pop-up blocking software and allow cookies

Guides and help on how to set up off campus access to e-resources

Summary

We subscribe to hundreds of databases containing thousands of e-journals containing millions of journal articles, and e-books (around 80,000 titles in one collection alone), so it may be possible to continue your studies or research wherever you are staying. Because you are working outside the campus network you need to identify yourself as a member of this institution to access electronic databases and e-journals that we pay for. There are 2 ways to do this and you must be prepared to use both methods:

1. Access by automatic recognition = configure your computer to use the University's web proxy address. You will not be required to login to these databases.
2. Access by login via Shibboleth = you are required to identify yourself by logging in via the Shibboleth authentication service (alternatively known as the UK Access Management Federation) using your University computer username and password

Finally, you must allow pop-ups and cookies for the ebrary e-book collection (and all other database websites when prompted during a search session).

Guides and help on how to set up off campus access to e-resources are available at the end of this section.

1. Instructions for access via automatic recognition

You must configure your computer to look as though you are working on the campus network.

1. Go to www.abdn.ac.uk/proxy/ and follow the instructions relevant to your operating system (Windows or Mac) and web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari etc.).
2. Once you have configured your computer to do this you will be connected seamlessly to all databases using automatic IP recognition.
3. PLEASE NOTE: once the proxy server address is saved on your computer you will be prompted to login with your University computer username and password every time you open your web browser. Many people who share their home computer with other family members download a second browser to use for study purposes (such as Firefox, which is free), allowing their families unimpeded access to the internet using the original web browser.
4. If you are working behind a firewall on a company or academic institution network you should contact your IT service to discuss setting up access to our University network.
5. Certain IP providers such as AOL and Tiscali prevent you from saving the University's web proxy address on your web browser - you are advised to download an additional web browser such as Firefox to use for study purposes.
6. If you have difficulty in configuring your computer, either:
1. *email the IT Service Desk (servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk) or
2. *log a problem call via the web self-service page at www.abdn.ac.uk/dit/servicedesk/self-service.php. 

* Remember to give all your contact details including telephone number.

2. Instructions for access via Shibboleth (UK Federation)

Most of our databases are now accessed by this route. The best way to link through to a database (particularly when working off campus or on your laptop on the University network) is to find it on Primo (see quick guide) and use the hypertext link embedded in the title. If you go online to a database by another route and find that you either can't search it or you are asked to pay for a full text copy of a document, you should do the following:

1. On the database click on a link which could be named Login or Institutional Login or Shibboleth Login or UK Access Management Federation (unfortunately the publishers decide on the name). 
2. You will be asked to select your region (choose the UK option). IMPORTANT: you must always choose the UK option even when you access our databases from overseas.
3. Then select University of Aberdeen.
4. A login box will appear in which you must enter your University computer username and password.

3. Amend your pop-up blocking software and allow cookies for ebrary

Pop-up windows: For security reasons many computers are set up to block most pop-up windows. However, if you wish to use some of the functions available on ebrary, e.g. Define, Explain, Who, Locate you will have to allow your pop-up blocking software to accept pop-ups from the ebrary website.

Cookies: "A cookie is a piece of information in the form of a very small text file that is placed on an internet user's hard drive. It is generated by a web page server, which is basically the computer that operates a web site.

The information the cookie contains is set by the server and it can be used by that server whenever the user visits the site. A cookie can be thought of as an internet user's identification card, which tells a web site when the user has returned." (Source: www.aboutcookies.org)

See the library guide to using ebrary for instructions on how to allow pop-up windows and cookies on ebrary.

4. Guides and help on how to set up off campus access to e-resources

Library Guide: QG DBS005 Accessing Electronic Information

DIT Guide: Remote Access

VodCast (video-style demo): Accessing resources from off-campus

Web page: www.abdn.ac.uk/proxy/ (setting up proxy server access)

IT Service Desk: servicedesk@abdn.ac.uk; tel. +44 (0)1224-273636