Database Access
We have multiple modes and avenues of access to our subscription databases.
Two major categories of access are on-campus and off-campus. In
both cases the links operate through IP recognition. That is, the
database server must recognize the numerical address of the PC (or proxy server) requesting
access as one that is at OCC.
On-Campus versus Off-Campus
On-campus links
usually involve a range of IP addresses. That is, the
database server must recognize the numerical address of the PC requesting access
as one that is at OCC IP address range. The database server "recognizes" the requesting PC
based on arrangements worked out in administration modules by vendors and OCC
libraries. Conventions for URLs vary from vendor to vendor, and the links periodically need
updating.
- Articles / Databases is the primary
set of on-campus links. It organizes the links into categories and
provides descriptions and guides to usage. It is also the avenue
to the primary set of off-campus links. A number of other pages
(e.g. subject guides) link to Articles / Databases for the off-campus
avenue it provides.
- Research Databases is an alphabetical list
of databases with on-campus links.
- Many subject guides have on-campus
links to particular databases.
Off-campus links utilize several avenues.
While these are designed for access outside the libraries, they can actually be
used from any location, on- or off-campus.
- The primary page of off-campus links available via the EZproxy server.
- Students in courses using Blackboard can log in from wherever they are, on- or off-campus, and be
authenticated for access to all databases. The connection and
authentication are performed by the OCC intermediary server EZProxy. A special page of database
(and other) links exists for students' use within Blackboard, but instructors
must decide whether to request that the Online Library Resources “course” be
added for their students.
Requests can be made
by completing the form on our web site.
- A second online courseware, Educator,
also utilizes EZProxy and may contain a link to library databases at the
instructor's discretion.
- OCC
Online Services
(WebAdvisor)
authenticates students with a single input of their student ID and number.
It then connects to database servers using EZProxy.
- Faculty and staff also have a set of off-campus links
using EZProxy as the intermediary. They need enter their college ID
and password only once for access to all databases.
- A set of back-up IDs and passwords
allows access from on- or off-campus to some databases when
the modes above fail. Usually an inability to connect involves failure
of the database server to recognize the accessing PC. When this
happens, the PC user is then treated like anyone in the wide world with an
individual account and must enter an ID and password for the particular
database. Note that the user can be on-campus or off but must use
only the on-campus links. Librarians may provide a page of these
IDs and passwords to OCC students and employees.
- Finally, there is also a page of a few IDs and passwords
for databases with special arrangements and for librarian-only sites
(e.g. DALNET member services). This may not be furnished to
any patrons.
For Library Staff
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