A small number of our electronic Library resources, rather than using a sensible(ish) authentication method (such as IP authentication or federated access, both of which enable a user to log in with their University of Lincoln account), instead have their own single generic username/password, which all users must use to access the resource.
These resources tend to be smaller magazines and professional membership services, which aren’t really aimed at academic libraries, but which nevertheless our users are entitled to access.
In the old days we kept these generic usernames/passwords on a sheet of paper; later a secure web page which students and staff could log into to look up the password they needed.
Since 2005, the University of Lincoln has provided access to these resources using a “Form Capture Utility“, developed by ICT Services and running on the University Portal. This system hides the username/password from the user and logs in on their behalf. This means that generic passwords are kept secret (reducing the risk that they could be “leaked” to non-students), and has the benefit that users get one-click access to the resources, without having to look up a password from a list and fill it in themselves.
We’re now starting to phase out the Form Capture Utility, instead using EZproxy to protect access to these generic-passworded resources. The EZproxy mailing list and documentation have been very useful in helping us work out how we can use EZproxy to replicate the functions of the FCU. Using EZproxy rather than the Form Capture Utility will mean one less system to maintain, and simpler, more consistent logins for users of the library.
Technical note: this method of access via EZproxy involves using Google Chrome’s developer tools—or similar—to analyse the resource’s login method. EZproxy then provides “stanza” configuration commands for injecting the generic username/password into each resource. There are two different ways of doing this, depending on the nature of the resource. The first is simple and fairly stable, but requires that you access the resource via as specific login point. The second method is more complex, relies on JavaScript, and is more brittle (i.e. liable to break easily) – but users can link to the resource from any point e.g. using this EZproxy bookmarklet rather than having to use a special login link. Again, the username/password details are hidden from the user, and they get one-click access to the resource.
A list of the updated resources is below. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments about these new login links. As long as they prove stable, the library website and e-journals A-to-Z will be updated to use the new links.
The Form Capture Utility will then be withdrawn.
Resource
|
Old login link (Form Capture Utility)
|
New login link (EZproxy)
|
| Leisure Recreation and Tourism Abstracts (A&I) |
[link] |
[link] |
| Factiva Academic |
[link] |
[link] |
| Leisure Management |
[link] |
[link] |
| TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) |
[link] |
[link] |
| frieze |
[link] |
[link] |
| Media Lawyer (Press Association) |
[link] |
[link] |
| IHS Technical Indexes |
[link] |
[link] |
| Fresh Produce Journal |
[link] |
[link] |
| Campden BRI |
[link] |
[link] |
| Food Technology |
[link] |
[link] |
| Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
[link] |
[link] |
| IDS |
[link] |
[link] |
| Children & Young People Now |
[link] |
[link] |
