Frequently Answered Questions
Off-Campus Access Problem: First Time User
The Merrill-Cazier Library provides off-campus access to most of our subscription electronic resources. In order to establish an off-campus connection, you must first make sure that you have a valid cc.usu.edu email account. Second, you must configure your browser to connect to the USU proxy server. Instructions for obtaining the email account and setting up the proxy are available here: http://helpdesk.usu.edu/content/tutorials/library.offcampus.access.php.
Once you have configured your browser, you should see a pop-up window prompting you to login to the USU proxy. Use the login and password for the cc.usu.edu email account to login to the proxy. NOTE: Do not use the entire email address--only the actual login name and password. If you are not sure if you have a cc.usu.edu email account or have lost your password, contact the Help Desk (Phone: 435.797.4357 or Email: helpdesk@usu.edu). The proxy routes your online activity through a USU server and authenticates you as faculty, student, or staff of Utah State University. See Images of Proxy Config Here: http://library.usu.edu/elecres/nerhome/proxyimage.php.
You can turn the proxy on and off as you need it. Some people find it annoying to leave the proxy setting in the "on" position as you will be forced to login every time you open the browser. You should only need proxy to connect remotely to library resources.
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Help Logging In
If you are being prompted for login and password by the USU proxy and the system is not accepting your login information, you will want to contact the Help Desk (Phone: 435.797.4357 or Email: helpdesk@usu.edu). Similarly, if you have forgotten the login name or password, you will also need to contact the Help Desk. If you are having trouble logging in to another service (not a library e-journal or bibliographic database), return to the following page: http://library.usu.edu/elecres/nerhome/help/login.php
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Off-Campus Access Problem: Proxy Configured but Not Working
If you have correctly configured the proxy and it still is not working, it is very likely that a security application is preventing you from accessing the proxy with your machine. There are several known issues that may cause proxy not to work with your machine:
Because USU Network and Computer Services maintains the proxy, you will need to contact the Help Desk at 435.797.4358 or by email at helpdesk@usu.edu for resolution of these types of problem. If you are still unable to use the databases after speaking with the Help Desk, please call Jennifer Duncan at 435.797.8148 or email to jennifer.duncan@usu.edu
- Are you connecting from a machine at your place of business? Often, although you can change the settings on your browser, your local systems administrator may have a firewall or other security program that prevents you from hitting USU proxy. You will need to work with your local IT support in order to access proxy if this is the case.
- Are you connecting through a public or semi-public wireless network? Once again, you may need to work with local IT support to disable security settings that may be preventing you from accessing the university proxy.
- Are you connecting through AOL? AOL does not facilitate configuration of USU proxy.
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Using VPN or Modem Pool in Lieu of Proxy
There are two other access options for remote authentication to the Library databases: the modem pool and the VPN client. Both options allow you to connect directly to the USU network and avoid dealing with the proxy. For both options you must have a username@cc.usu.edu email account.
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For dial-up users, this is an excellent option. See Help Desk policies, procedures, and rates for use of the modem pool.
VPN Client
Installing the VPN client is the best option for heavy users of Library resources. Resources that have proxy access blocked (American Society of Civil Engineers and American Institute of Physics journals, for example) are available by using the VPN client. You can pick-up a copy of the client at the Help Desk or it is available for download if you have a high speed Internet connection. Directions of download and installation of the VPN client....
Potential Firewall Problem
If you have correctly configured USU proxy or the VPN client and when you click on the electronic resource link you do not see a small window prompting you to login to the proxy--or the VPN client is not connecting, you may be behind a firewall. Firewalls can prevent access to the proxy server or a VPN connection. If your firewall is blocking access to our hosts and ports, remote access will be disabled. You may need to work with your Internet Service Provider or refer to the manual for your firewall in order to allow our ports and hosts.
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Off-Campus Access Problem: Distance Education Students
If you are a Distance Education student, you may want to contact the Distance Education Library Services (DELS) Office (http://library.usu.edu/dels/index.php) for additional assistance. The phone number is 800-525-7178.
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Off-Campus Access Problem: Uintah Basin
In Spring 2006 Uintah Basin changed its internet service provider to UEN. As a result, machines located at Uintah Basin no longer share main campus IP addresses (within the range 129.123.*.*). While we are working to update electronic resource profiles to accept the new IP addresses, Uintah Basin users will probably need to use the USU proxy server to obtain seemless access to the electronic collection. Directions for setting up USU proxy are here: http://helpdesk.usu.edu/content/tutorials/library.offcampus.access.php.
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Off-Campus Access Problem: No Proxy Permitted
Unfortunately some resources are only available from the Utah State University campus network on machines with routable IP addresses. [This means that the machines IP address must begin with 129.123. but not directed through the USU proxy.] Why is this?
We ask all faculty, students and staff to adhere to the following terms before using our electronic resources:
Users agree to adhere to the copyright restrictions of this site as they appear under the terms of Utah State University's licensing agreement with each publisher. As such, users are prohibited from the use, sale, transference, copying or reproduction of material for commercial gain. Reproduction of material from this site is reserved for educational purposes only.Unfortunately, since 2005, we have run into a few clear violations of our license agreements by USU students, faculty, and staff. There have been situations in which someone has gained access to electronic journals via the proxy server and then downloaded thousands of articles--a clear violation of almost any agreement. Because some publishers have not been satisfied with our ability to control these license violations, we have been forced to block access to selected electronic titles. Titles blocked from the proxy often have the domain aip.org. These titles are noted in our e-journal list with the following message: Access through the USU Proxy server is no longer available due to excessive download violations of the license agreement. The annotated e-journal list is available at the following URL: http://xz6kg9rb2j.search.serialssolutions.com/
Accordingly, you may not reproduce, publish, distribute, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, modify, create derivative works from, display, or in any way exploit this content in whole or in part. Excessive downloading is prohibited unless prior written permission has been obtained. You may not download an entire issue of a journal, significant portions of the entire run of a journal, a significant number of sequential articles, or multiple copies of articles.
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Can Alumni Use the Library's Electronic Resources?
The Merrill-Cazier Library maintains several public access computers near the Information Desk on the first floor. Anyone is permitted to use these machines without logging-in or signing-up. Unfortunately, however, remote access to most electronic resources listed on the Library webpage is only licensed for current students, faculty, and staff of Utah State University. By contract, we are not permitted to allow alumni to access electronic resources remotely.
As an alternative, Utah residents can consider using Utah Pioneer: http://pioneer.utah.gov/. Public Pioneer is funded by state tax revenue and includes some of the same databases to which you had access as a student at USU. Some local public libraries also make additional online resources available to library card holders. Please check with your local public library to obtain authentication to use these databases.
Alumni who no longer live in Utah may also want to check with their local public library as many public libraries now make remote access to electronic resources available to their patrons.
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How to Clear Cache
Browsers often store old copies of web pages in order to speed later browsing. If you have a less than current version of a web page stored in your system, it may cause errors in search and display and you may need to clear the cache in your browser. For instructions on clearing cache, please refer to the following guide: http://library.usu.edu/elecres/guides/clearcache.pdf
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How to Unblock Pop-Ups
Several electronic resources require that you disable pop-up blockers in order to use them. For instructions on unblocking pop-ups, please refer to the following guide: http://library.usu.edu/elecres/guides/disablepopup.pdf
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How to Configure a Browser for Cookies
Several electronic resources require that you configure your browser to accept cookies. Cookies are for session management and user identification. For instructions on configuring your browser to accept cookies, please refer to the following guide: http://library.usu.edu/elecres/guides/cookies.pdf
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Problem with IP Address
Most Library licensed electronic resources require that your computer have an IP address beginning with the digits 129.123. In order to determine what your IP address is, go to the following website: http://whatismyipaddress.com/.
If you are on campus and your computer is within the appropriate IP range but you still cannot access Library electronic resources, you probably have a problem unrelated to the IP address--most likely there is a problem on the database vendor end. Please contact Jennifer Duncan at jennifer.duncan@usu.edu or 435.797.8148.
If you are on campus and your IP address is not within the 129.123. range, you will likely need to register for a routable IP address through Network and Computer Services: http://helpdesk.usu.edu/content/students/routable.request.php. This is essential if you are trying to use SciFinder Scholar. The alternative is to set your machine to use the USU proxy--even while on campus. Instructions for USU proxy are here: http://helpdesk.usu.edu/content/tutorials/library.offcampus.access.php.
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Problem With PDFs--including JSTOR and NetLibrary
If you are having trouble opening a PDF, first make sure that you have a late version of Adobe Acrobat installed. Free downloads are available here. If you do have Acrobat and are trying to use JSTOR, please be aware of the following:
If you are using JSTOR with a late version browser (such as Firefox 1.5 and higher) you may run into problems using an Acrobat plug-in that allows you to view PDFs within your browser window. The error message generally says something about a damaged file. We believe that the error may result only for certain PDFs with specific end of file markers. (Those who have the full version of Acrobat, not just the Reader, should not see this error.)NOTE: If you connect to the Internet via dial-up, PDF files are often too large to download. Large files can take up to 1/2 hour or longer.
First Option: Set your machine to launch the Acrobat Reader application outside of the browser (i.e. disable the helper application that permits you to view the document within the browser window). Note, however, that this will prevent you from accessing NetLibrary materials. To access NetLibrary materials you must set Acrobat to open within the browser window. To make changes to this setting, open Acrobat Reader and go to Edit--Preferences--Internet Options.
Second Option: Download the file to your desk top. Right click on the "Download" link on the top of the page (when viewing the article) and select the "Save Link As..." (in Netscape or Mozilla), or "Save Target As..." (in Internet Explorer) if you are a Windows user. If you are a Mac user, click and hold the "Download" link (or ctrl + click in OS X) and select "Save this Link as..." You can then name the file and download it to the desired location.
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ProQuest Problems? Try CookieCutter
Problems with ProQuest databases can often be solved by running their "cookiecutter" procedure. Follow these steps:
NetLibrary ProblemsThese steps will cause your browser to forget any information it has stored about the ProQuest session.
- Close all internet browser windows
- Go to http://www.umi.com/cookiecutter
- Click on the "Reset your Browser" button
- Close all internet browser windows
- Re-connect to the database you were using
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NetLibrary lets you either "browse" or "borrow" books. If you choose to borrow a book, you have 4 hours to view it online and no one can see it while you have it "checked out." Similarly, if someone else has checked out the e-book, you will not be able to view the content until the book has been "returned." To check out a netLibrary title, you will need to set up an individual (free) account.
To open an account, open a netLibrary session and click on the link "Create a Free Account" in the upper right corner of the page. Fill out the form as required. This information is stored on the netLibrary servers, so once you have created the account, no one in the Library will be able to retrieve this information for you. Make sure you store this information someplace you will be able to retrieve it. Once you have created this account, you should be able to immediately check out netLibrary books from any machine connected to the internet. You are not required to use the proxy for remote access.
Some users who have set Adobe Acrobat to open outside of their browser window may run into difficulty opening NetLibrary books. For help with this issue, see Problems With PDFs above.
If you continue to have problems either setting up the account or are being denied access, please let us know by filling out the problem report form: http://library.usu.edu/main/forms/database.php.
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Problem Confirmed--Acknowledgement and Status
Sometimes the database provider encounters technical trouble on their end. When this appears to be the case, we make a note on the Problem Status page of the Library website. We will work with the provider to restore access to the problem service as quickly as possible. You can check the status of problems by referring to this page: http://library.usu.edu/main/inabs/technical_trouble.php
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Date last updated: 12/20/06