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Library Proxy Service


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and their answers are listed alphabetically by topic.
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How-to Guides for  

The Library Proxy Service is provided by the Library and Office of CIT to allow SMU persons to access e-resources remotely (i.e. from off-campus). This service is enabled for all e-resources and the Online Catalogue How to. The e-resources are licensed for use by SMU users only. Users will use their SMU username and password for authentication.

Basic Requirements
  1. A PC with access to the Internet
  2. A web browser like Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.X and above and Netscape 6.X and above, and with cookies enabled How to
  3. Your SMU username and password
  4. Other requirements being imposed by the e-resources (for example Javascript)

 

Steps

Accessing E-journals

  1. Click on e-Journals link.


  2. A login page appears,
    (a) if you are using IE browser and have logged in to the SMU network, click on the Campus Login button to access the resource.
    (b) If you are using VPN and IE browser (on campus or off campus), click on Campus Login button to access the resource.


    (c) If you are using non- IE browser (e.g Firefox), you should use the key in your SMU id /password to access the resource.
    (d) If you are accessing offsite, you should use the key in your SMU id /password to access the resource.

  3. After either of the options listed above, you should get to the E-journals main screen.



    Accessing Databases
  4. Click on Databases link, select the options in step 2.

  5. After you have selected the options, you should get to the Databases listing page.


    Note: Once you have been successfully authenticated once (either through E-journals or Databases), you will not be prompted for login again. This is the feature of login in once and use many times.
Problems
  1. Why am I not able to access to the e-resources?
    The settings on your personal firewall / anti-virus software maybe blocking the access.
  2. Why I am not able to access to the e-resources from my company network?
    Please check with your company's relevant person. Your company may have imposed restriction on the proxy server or firewall to disallow access.
    Your software may be configured not to accept cookies. How to
  3. Why I am not able to access the e-resources via the bookmarks?
    The library proxy service does not support bookmarks. You should not create bookmarks of the e-resources when the library proxy service is used.
  4. How long will the session time-out?
    Your session with the library proxy service will expire if it is idle for more than 2 hours. You need to authenticate again to begin a new session.
  5. Why do I need to be authenticated again?
    When you close all the browser windows, the session is deemed to be closed. You will need to authenticate again to begin a new session.
  6. Am I able to use alternative browsers to seek out the e-resources?
    You are able to use alternative browsers (e.g Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera etc) to access the e-resources BUT you will not be able to enjoy the Single-Sign-On 'Campus Login' feature. Microsoft IE browser allows SSO to be integrated to the campus infrastructure.

 
 
Last updated on 16 January, 2008 by Li Ka Shing Library