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FAQ: Why can’t I access resources off campus?
With very few exceptions (listed here), you should be able to use your university login details to access the library’s resources, irrespective of whether you are located on or off campus.
If you find that you are not being given the opportunity to log in with your university details then there are several possible explanations.
1) Cookies need clearing
If you have previously logged in using Athens credentials then it is likely that cookies on your computer are directing you to the (now-superseded) Athens login pages instead of the correct University Single Sign-On page.
To fix this problem you will need to clear your cookies. The precise instructions depend on the browser that you are using (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome etc) but for Internet Explorer version 7 the steps are as follows:
- Launch IE7
- Go to Tools menu
- Select Internet options
- Click General tab
- Look for Browsing history section
- Click delete button
- Tick Cookies option
- Click Delete button
- Click OK button
You should then close the browser and re-open it.
Having cleared your cookies in this way, as long as you access the library’s resources via NELSON, Find My Reference or the A-Z list you should be taken to the appropriate login screen for you to put in your University Single Sign-in details.
2) Access route avoids authentication
If you do not access resources via the library’s web pages then it is possible that you will not be taken through the correct authentication system. The cookies problem described above is one manifestation of this problem, but it might also occur because, for example, you have previously bookmarked a publisher’s web page or you have jumped straight to a database from a search engine. The end result will be failure to gain access or, even worse, finding yourself being invited to pay for the resource.
Don’t part with any money yet!
First you should look around the screen for a login button or link. Ideally this will offer you a ‘Login through your institution’ option, but it may say something like ‘Alternative login’, ‘University login’ or even ‘Shibboleth login’. What you are looking for is the chance to select the University of Northampton from a drop-down list.
Once you have selected the University of Northampton (or ‘University of Northampton IDP’) then you will be able to enter your usual university login details. If we subscribe to that resource then you will be given access. (Don’t forget, you can always check whether we subscribe to a particular journal by using Find My Reference.)
Of course it is possible that the library does not subscribe to your chosen resource. In this case an inter library loan may be the answer.
3) Subscription resources either not available off campus or cannot be accessed using normal university login
For licensing reasons there are a very few of the library’s resources that either cannot be accessed off campus at all, or require different passwords.
For further information about these please see this post.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
