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Accessing Healey Library Materials from Off-Campus

Healey Library eResources are accessible from off-campus to current UMB students, faculty, and staff.

You will need a current library barcode in order to access the materials. Any time that you try to access restricted eResources from off campus you will need to log in with your last name and Healey Library barcode.

Last Name and barcode login screen

The first time you try to access a restricted database, a screen like this will appear.

You will need to:

  1. Enter Your Last Name - spell as it appears on your UMB ID (Not case sensative, but do not include any hyphens.)
  2. Enter your Barcode - located on the back of your UMB ID* (include ALL ten numbers.)
  3. Click Login.

Now you should be able to access the requested eResource.

*If you are a currently employed UMB faculty or staff memeber, or a current student, and do not have a library barcode please visit the circulation desk on the 2nd floor of Healey Library.

EZProxy has been tested on the most recent versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera. If problems arise please consult the FAQ list below.

 

I don't know my UMB Library barcode. How do I find out what it is?

Your library barcode is located on the back of your UMB ID. If you don't have one please contact the Healey Library Circulation Department. For more help please call Circulation Desk at (617) 287-5900.

My last name/barcode combination doesn't let me log in.

If you have a barcode on the back of your ID, make sure that you are typing it in correctly, you will need to use ALL ten digits of the barcode.

  • Your last name is not case sensitive.
  • You must omit hypens (type Jones-Drew as Jones Drew.)

I can't access resources from off-campus, who do I contact?

For help please call and send an email to the Circulation Department or call (617) 287-5900.

I can't access a particular eResource, who do I contact?

Please contact the Circulation Desk at (617) 287-5900,  to ask if there are any current problems with a particular eResource.

If certain links or other aspects of the site aren't functioning, there are a few primary possibilities:

  • EZProxy's configuration for the database needs to be adjusted
    If these features function when accessing the resource from on-campus (which doesn't use EZProxy), then EZProxy's configuration may have to be adjusted to adapt to the database's particular method
  • Problem is with vendor's site
    Like any information technology, there are often problems on the vendor's end that lead to problems with the database. These problems are generally resolved fairly quickly once the vendor is aware of them.
  • Problem is with your browser's ability to handle site's programming
    Problems could also be due to your browser not working with the programming they use (Java or JavaScript, Active Server pages, etc.) You browser's settings might be preventing certain functionality, or, sometimes, an error occurs in the browser that can't be resolved until you reboot your computer.
  • Certain content or features are not part of the library's subscription
    In a few databases, the library's subscription does not provide access to all features or content on a site. In this case, you may get an error message or login screen - though it may also be that what appear to be links to those features are simply not active.

As always, you should note the name of the resource and the features you were trying to access and contact the Circulation Desk.

Why do I need to log into a proxy server?

Online databases and electronic journals subscribed to by the Healey Library are restricted, by the vendors, for use by UMB students, faculty, and staff ONLY.

Most online resources control access by your computer's IP address. Anyone coming from a campus IP address gets access, but users are refused access if they are coming from elsewhere.

To provide off-campus access for UMB users an EZProxy server is used. It performs two primary functions:

  • Authenticates users as UMB student, staff or faculty by requiring a login, thus ensuring compliance with vendor restrictions.
  • Serves as an on-campus intermediary (with a valid IP address) by passing information between off-campus users and restricted online resources.

Off-campus users connect to the proxy server, login to verify they are affiliated with UMB, then the proxy server connects to the resource for them and passes information back and forth. Since the proxy server is coming from on-campus, its IP address is accepted by the online resources.

What do I need to do to use EZProxy?

EZProxy should require no configuration on the user's part. The connection to EZProxy is coded into the regular links to databases on the library's web pages. When you click on a link to an online library resource, EZProxy checks whether your computer is on-campus or off.
  • If you are on-campus, you will bypass EZProxy and be sent directly to the resource.
  • If you are off-campus, you will be required to login with your lastname and barcode, then be sent to the resource.

If there are problems, a user may need to make sure the browser can accept cookies or that the browser is not currently configured to use another proxy server.

I can get in through EXProxy, but the eResource wants me to login as well.

A eResource that asks for a log in may mean that either the resource you are trying to access is not subscribed to by Healey Library, or that there is an EZproxy access error. Please contact the Healey Library at (617) 287-5900 or email the Reference Department.

EZProxy doesn't let me connect from my work computer.

EZProxy's method of proxying should minimize these problems, and provide greater options for correction.

Most problems using EZProxy from work need to be resolved with your company's IT staff. Many corporations use firewalls and/or proxy servers for network security reasons.

Secondly, some companies have employee's browsers configured to use their own proxy server (or not enable acceptance of cookies, or some other security setting) that may interfere with EZProxy's functioning.

I get an EXProxy hostname or 404 error, what do I do?

You will get an EZProxy Hostname Error page when you attempt to access content on a computer host that has not yet been set up for use by EZProxy.

Database vendors often change domain names, or pull content from new computer hosts without ever informing libraries. Thus, when a hostname error occurs, EZProxy's configuration must be updated to include the new host for proxying.

To expedite correction of this error, please note:

  • the name of the resource you were trying to access
  • the computer hostname line listed on the error page

and send an email to the Circulation Department or call (617) 287-5900.

EZProxy delivers error pages to users for certain common problems. These will usually have the library's header and information relevant to explaining the problem and solution.

There are a variety of common errors that occur during general surfing of the Internet. When they occur, the web server (or web browser) sends an error page for you to view - usually without a lot of explanation. These may or may not be related to EZProxy. Two common Internet errors are:

  • 404 Errors (Page not Found)
  • "Server not Found or DNS Error"
Users may get these errors for a variety of reasons.
  • An incorrect URL, outdated link, or a missing page
  • Some aspect of your network is down or very busy

Whenever you get an error page, especially one that doesn't come from EZProxy, it is important you note what the error page says, the URL you were trying to access (and from where) and other relevant information and send an email to the Circulation Department or call (617) 287-5900.

I get EZProxy cookie errors, what should I do?

I got an EZProxy Cookie Error. What do I do? Both EZProxy and certain databases send "cookies" when you connect to them, to show, during your session, that you are an authorized user.

Your browser reported an error receiving a "cookie" and MAY be currently set to disallow cookies.

In Firefox, check: Tools/Options/Privacy Tab and make sure cookies are not disallowed.

In Internet Explorer, check: Tools Menu/Internet Options/Security Tab/ and make sure your security level is medium (or above) or, if you have a custom level, that cookies are not disabled.

 

Related tags: Off-Campus Users