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Off Campus Access to Axe Library Databases

Reported issues: Internet Explorer 8

Using databases off campus

When you are off campus and click on a database title that requires identification and a password, you will get the following screen:

User Name: Enter the last 7 digits of your PSU ID number
Password: Enter your GusPIN

A successful login will take you immediately to the database.

If you receive an error message when logging in, check the following troubleshooting tips:

• Have you entered the database through the Axe Library web site? Go to http://library.pittstate.edu/ and select either Title or Subject under the heading "Online Databases".
• Does your GusPIN have a blank space in it? If so, it will not work with the proxy server, even though it does with other PSU services. Please change your PIN.
• Have you used the last seven digits of your PSU ID as your User Name?
• Is your browser and settings correct?
  • Internet Explorer or Netscape - version 4.0 or higher.
  • Your browser software must be set to accept cookies

If you still cannot get into the database

• Click on this link to determine your current IP address. Please write the number down, this will help our Systems staff diagnose problems.
• Contact the Axe Library Reference Desk at 620-235-4894. Librarians are available 7:45-9 Monday--Thursday; 7:45-5 on Friday; 1-4 on Saturday and 3-9 on Sunday.
• OR, e-mail your problem to the Online Reference Assistance email link. Email queries are usually answered in 24 hours.

If you do not have a GusPIN

• Call 620-235-4603 during business hours Monday through Friday
• Apply in person at the Help Desk (Gorilla Geeks), room 109 Whitesitt Hall
• Use the GUS help page

Internet Explorer 8 issues:

June, 2009

Since Internet Explorer 8 is beginning to "appear in the wild", we need to point out a few issues with proxying databases that are caused by the "enhanced security features" of this generation of browsers. Some of the problems also seem to be effecting later versions of Firefox, but to a lesser extent.

Basically, these browsers are restricting cookies more than previous versions, and since session information (login status, identity, etc.) is tracked by Ezproxy using cookies, this can cause a variety of problems, up to and including a complete inability to login.

Other symptoms include:

• Sessions dropping unexpectedly
• "Login Required" messages even after you've successfully logged in via LDAP/GUS. This has been observed primarily at Books24x7, but could happen with other vendors.
• Missing customizations at specific database sites, such as the Bookshelves at Books24x7.

The "easiest", quickest way to get around this is to add library.pittstate.edu to the "Trusted Sites" in the browsers Security Settings. This also has the added benefit of not changing the security settings for any other websites in the users browser......it only effects library.pittstate.edu.

For Internet Explorer 7 and 8: Click TOOLS > INTERNET OPTIONS > SECURITY tab. Click "Trusted Sites" with the Green checkmark over it as shown below.

Click the SITES button. On the "Trusted Sites" popup, take the checkmark off under "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone", then type: "http://library.pittstate.edu", or simply type "https://library.pittstate.edu" and click ADD. Click APPLY. Click OK to close. This should eliminate the cookies issues, since your telling the browser that our website can be treated as a "Trusted Website".

For Firefox 3.x: TOOLS > OPTIONS > PRIVACY tab. In the COOKIES box, click EXCEPTIONS. In the ADDRESS OF WEBSITE bar type "library.pittstate.edu" and then click ALLOW below the bar. Click CLOSE, and you're done.

If any of our users object to using cookies, please note that Ezproxy only uses "Session Cookies" which are deleted when the browser is closed. No trackable information is retained.

Please let us know of any browser issues you encounter when accessing databases.

Last Modified: Aug 19, 2009 - 11:48
http://library.pittstate.edu/db/proxyfaq.html