Off-Campus Database Access User Guide
What is It?
Off-campus database access allows current Hiram College students,
faculty members, and staff members to have access to more than 100
databases from anywhere in the world where they have Internet
access. While a few of these databases are free to everyone, most
are licensed by OhioLINK and many of them are loaded on OhioLINK
servers. The OhioLINK licenses with
the database producers require OhioLINK verify that the user is a
current student, faculty member or staff member. Since this
process checks the name and barcode you enter against your Hiram College
Library record, your library record must be up-to-date and include your
barcode number.
What Databases are Available?
More than 100 databases are available through the Off-Campus
Database Access service. They
are designated in both the alphabetical database list and the
subject
lists by the phrase (off-campus Hiram users, click
here).
Clicking on the click here link will take either to the database
(if it is a free database) or a validation page at OhioLINK. Most major subject databases are available, but please note
that some databases may be accessed only from on-campus computers.
What Do I Need to Use This Service?
1. Obviously, you will need Internet
access, probably from a commercial provider.
2. You will need a validated library
barcode. The system validates by checking the name and barcode you
enter against your library record. If you have not come to
the library and had us enter your barcode number into your library
record, the authentication process will not recognize you as a current
student, faculty member, or staff member and you will be denied access.
3. You will need to have a reasonably
current browser, preferably Internet Explorer or Netscape.
OhioLINK has not been able to determine how old a browser can be and
still work, but it is recommend that you have at least version 4.x of
one of these two browsers.
4. Your browser must be enabled to accept
cookies. The cookie set up by the OhioLINK authentication
server allows other OhioLINK servers to verify you as a valid user.
The cookie expires when you close your browser or after two hours,
whichever comes first. If you are unsure if your browser will
accept cookies you can click
here to test.
How Do I Access the Databases?
Option 1 – Use the Library’s web pages as you normally would
to identify databases relevant to your research. Just click on the click here link in the (off-campus Hiram
users, click here) phrase. If
you do not see that phrase, the database may be accessed only from
on-campus computers.
Option 2 -
1. Go directly to the OhioLINK
remote authentication page (http://auth.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/auth.cgi).
2. On the Institution Selection Form that
appears, select Hiram College from the button bar. Then click on
the Submit button.
3. On the OhioLINK Authentication Form
that appears, enter your name (last name first) and your barcode number.
Then click on the Submit button.
4. If you are authenticated, you will be sent
to a listing of available databases. Databases that are available from
off-campus have a telephone icon to the right of the database name.
Option 3 -
1. Go to the list of available databases at
http://www.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/databases.pl?
2. Click on the database you wish to
search (it should have a phone icon indicating off-campus access).
3. On the Institution Selection Form that
will appear, select Hiram College from the button bar. Then click
on the Submit button.
4. On the OhioLINK Authentication Form
that appears, enter your name (last name first) and your barcode number.
Then click on the Submit button.
5. If you are authenticated, you will be
sent directly to the database you chose.
How Do I Get Help and Solve Problems?
Most failures to connect to databases from off-campus can be tracked
back to one (or more) of three causes. If you cannot gain access:
1. Please check to make sure your browser is enabled to accept cookies.
You can click here
to test that.
2. Browser incompatibility. If you are using AOL, you
need to acquire and use a recent version of either Internet Explorer or
Netscape. If you are using Internet Explorer version 5.0, you
should update your browser to a newer version.
3. Contact the library to be sure that your barcode is in
our database and you are a valid user. You may contact David
Everett by email at everettdd@hiram.edu
or by phone at (330) 569-5353. Please note that if the problem is
with your library record, you may have to come to the library to have
the problem solved. Queries will be answered as quickly as
possible, but this is not a 24-hour a day, seven days a week help line.
Finally, you may wish to check the FAQ
page set-up by OhioLINK for more information on this service.
If you are still having problems accessing this service,
please contact David Everett by email
(everettdd@hiram.edu) or by phone at (330) 569-5353. Please
note what browser and version you are using, what database you were
trying to access, and exactly what the error message said or the screen
looked like when you could not get in. Queries will be answered as
quickly as possible but this is not a 24-hour a day help line.
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