Research Guides: Research Methods Pharmacy 8140: Off-campus access availability

What are the limits on access to library resources if logging in from off-campus?

For OSU faculty, staff and students, there are typically no access limits to digital materials, as long as the library has subscribed to that content. For content that the library does not currently have a subscription to, please request it via Article Express or as a new eBook purchase. Print materials typically require on-campus access.

How to access library resources from off campus

Off-campus access to most OSU Library resources may be obtained through these routes:

1. Attempting to access an OSU Library resource through the OSU Library catalog from off campus should result in a prompt for your name.# and password, which in turn will permit off-campus access. OR

2. Many publishers/vendors permit access directly from their site with OSU authentication. If OSU holds a subscription to a resource and if the publisher/vendor provides direct access, proxy authentication can be achieved by either:

a. Applying an OSU Libraries' Bookmarklet within your browser, which you can selectively use when you wish to authenticate while visiting a publisher/vendor's site. Information on using a Bookmarklet (IMPORTANT NOTE re Bookmarklet: Due to newly implemented OSU security measures, the Bookmarklet does not always function as intended.)

b. Placing the following string at the beginning of the vendor’s URL: http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=http://[enter vendor’s URL here].

For both a and b, above, users will be prompted for their OSU username.# and password before being sent to the publisher/vendor’s site. This prompt will allow users to have authenticated off-campus access through the vendor/publisher's site.

A note to VPN users: VPN authentication, will not necessarily provide authentication for most library resources (unless used with the Bookmarklet or if the user is working remotely through an OSU desktop).

If you're working from off-campus and need to access subscription materials, you can quickly authenticate using your name.#. Here's how:

In Firefox:
Right-click on the following link, then select the "Bookmark This Link" option:

Off-Campus Sign-In service

In Safari:
Drag this link to your bookmarks toolbar:

Off-Campus Sign-In service

In Internet Explorer:
Right-click on this link:

Off-Campus Sign-In service

Select the "Add to Favorites..." option. (You may be warned that you are adding a link which may be unsafe. You can click whichever option is required to continue.)

In Google Chrome:
This bookmarklet should not be used in Chrome. Instead, install the OSU Off Campus Sign-In Extension from the Chrome Web Store.

You can create an Off-Campus Sign-In Bookmarklet on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch by viewing this page in your device's browser and following the steps below.

Note that this script is not compatible with Android phones.

Step 1: Copy this URL.

javascript:void(location.href=%22http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=%22+location.href)

Step 2: Bookmark this page.

Tap the action arrow button at the bottom center of the screen (iPhone, iPod Touch) or to the left of the location bar (iPad) and then tap Add Bookmark. You can change the name if you want (by default it will be called "Off-Campus Access -") Save the bookmark to your device's Bookmarks folder (or wherever you would like it to be), then tap "Done".

Step 3: Edit the Bookmark.

This is the important part. Tap the bookmarks button (it looks like an open book) at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or top of the screen (iPad). Then, tap "Edit". Find the bookmark you just saved (unless you changed the name, it will be titled "Off-Campus Access -") and tap it.

You now need to change the URL to the text you copied in Step 1. Tap the URL field (it begins with "http://"), then delete everything in it and paste the text you copied:

javascript:void(location.href=%22http://proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/login?url=%22+location.href)

Then, click "Done".

Step 4: Access Things!

Now, when you are using your iPhone or iPad and follow a link into a web site that the library provides you access to, just tap the "Off-Campus Access -" bookmarklet. If you have not logged in through the Libraries' website already, you will be redirected through OSU's authentication page. You will then be returned to the resource with access as if you were on campus.

Using Google Scholar from off campus?

Google Scholar provides an option to use the OSU "Find It" button. This is handy for off-campus access because it automatically routes you through the proxy. Steps to use this option in Google Scholar:

1. Go to Google Scholar

2. Click on the "hamburger" menu button (top left).

3. Click on Settings and then on Library Links.

4. Search for Ohio State University and then (when it appears) put a check mark in the box for OSU. Click "Save."

Use Google Scholar with care. More Info.