Accessing Licensed Resources FAQ

Trouble-Shooting Problems

Inserting the Proxy String:
- manually
- browser bookmarklet
- TinyURL button
- iPhone bookmarklet

VPN: an alternative access option

10 Ways to Access MIT Libraries E-Journals from Anywhere

About Us > FAQs > Accessing E-Resources FAQ

Accessing Licensed Electronic Resources: Off-Campus and On

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. How do I access licensed resources?
2. How does access via the proxy server/MIT's Touchstone work?
3. Can all resources can be accessed from off-campus?
4. Can MIT alumni or non-MIT users access these resources?
5. What is the "proxy string" for enabling outside software programs to work with our licensed ejournals from off-campus (such as "Papers" for the Mac and iPhone)?
6. What should I do if I am having technical difficulties?

1. How do I access licensed resources?

Access to all our licensed resources is either by MIT IP address or via the MIT Libraries' proxy server/MIT's Touchstone.

If you are on-campus with an MIT IP address, you can often go directly to the resource and get right in since the publisher will recognize your IP address (with certain exceptions that are indicated in the Vera record for the item).

If you are off-campus with a non-MIT IP address you must follow a path that either routes you through our proxy server, or simulates an MIT IP address. To get access off-campus:

	Use Vera, which will always route you through our proxy server.
	Use the Barton catalog.
	Use our shortcut "get" URLS for databases - easy to remember and you can find them listed in Vera (ex: http://libraries.mit.edu/get/jstor).
	Use VPN (Virtual Private Network): this IST-supported software makes your computer appear to have an on-campus IP address. See the MIT Libraries' VPN page.
	Use LibX: this Firefox and Chrome browser add-on can route web sites through our proxy server. Watch a short video tutorial.
	Insert a proxy string into the URL: manually or with a Firefox bookmarklet - this will route a licensed web site through our proxy server.
	Use Google Scholar: proxied links to MIT content will appear in Google Scholar if you set your Google Scholar settings for "Library Links" to be MIT.

2. How does access via the proxy server/MIT's Touchstone work?

Using one of the paths above will route you through our proxy server which will bring you to MIT's Touchstone, where you can either invoke your MIT web certificates or use your Kerberos login to get access.

• Touchstone: Authenticated Access to MIT Libraries Resources and Services
• Obtaining Certificates for Accessing Secure Web Services at MIT
• Creating and Using your MIT Kerberos Identity

3. Can all resources can be accessed from off-campus?

Most resources can be accessed off-campus - any on-campus-only restrictions will be noted in the Vera record for the item.

4. Can MIT alumni or non-MIT users access these resources?

Only current members of the MIT community may access these resources from off-campus. Vendors from whom we purchase these resources impose license restrictions that prevent us from offering off-campus access to anyone outside the immediate MIT community.

Alumni and non-MIT users may come to campus and access many of these resources from our public computers.

5. What is the "proxy string" for enabling outside software programs to work with our licensed ejournals from off-campus (such as "Papers" for the Mac and iPhone)?

We don't officially provide support for Papers and other such programs, but we can tell you the proxy string that these programs ask for in their settings. Adding this will allow these programs to access our licensed resources from off-campus via our proxy server.

proxy string: http://libproxy.mit.edu/login?url=
proxy string as required by "Papers": http://libproxy.mit.edu/login?url=%@

6. What should I do if I am having technical difficulties?

See Trouble-Shooting Problems: Accessing Licensed Electronic Resources or Ask Us! for help.

Questions? Contact Us