Off-campus access to the databases is limited to currently enrolled students, faculty and staff of the Auraria institutions (CCD, MSCD, UCDHSC-DDC and AHEC).

Q. How do I search the databases from off-campus?
Q. When I entered my name and id, it said 'patron not found'. Now what?
Q. My record is correct but when I submit my login information from home the page just clears the information I entered and I have to fill it in again.
Q. My record is fine but I am denied access.
Q. How do I get an article or book that is not available online?

Q. How do I search the databases from off-campus?

A. Whether you are on- or off-campus the method of finding database(s) to search & searching them is the same. You can approach it in several ways starting at the Library homepage :

Quick start route (try this when looking for articles for an undergraduate class assignment)

• enter your search term(s) in the Quick start search box (This searches for your terms simultaneously in the titles of all the articles found in 12 of our largest databases and may take some time. The articles are listed most recent first but you may also sort them by author, title or the journal they were published in. Look to the left to see them keywords associated with the articles in the list.)
• click on show abstract to read a brief summary of the article
• click on the title of the article and fill in your name and nine digit school id (or your ssn, if the first one doesn't work) to see the article in that database
• hints for searching databases

Advanced search route (try this when you are researching more deeply into a specific subject)

• choose Advanced search on the home page.
• below the search boxes you will see several general categories. You may either:
  • place a check in the box to the left and thus search all the databases associated with that category,
  • or you may expand the category and pick and choose the databases you wish to search together.
• remember that typically the more databases you search at once the slower the response time so be patient.
• also remember that these searches (Quick and Advanced) display only the first results that come back to you ... meaning the fastest database gets the most hits displayed not the most relevant hits or the most recent ones. To really mine a database you need to search the database's 'native interface'. [The native interface is the one you see when you go straight to the database, e.g. Academic OneFile, or family of databases, e.g. the Gale databases.]

Subject-specific databases for your research

• go to the a-z list of databases (Databases under Research Tools on the left end of the green bar).
• choose a database, or family of databases, to search in three different ways
  • from the recommended multi-subject databases
  • from the alpha list, when you know the name of the database
  • by using the subject dropdown menu
• click on the title of the database and fill in your name and nine digit school id (or your ssn, if the first one doesn't work)
• enter your search term(s) in the search box (Each database will have it's own search box. Take some time to examine the options available to you. For example, in some cases you may be able to add more databases to your search and save time. The resulting articles are typically listed most recent first but you may also sort them by author, title or the journal they were published in. Look for keywords or subjects associated with the articles in the list.)
• hints for searching databases

Q. When I entered my name and id, it said 'patron not found'. Now what?

A. Registered students and current faculty and staff will sometimes be denied access. Usually this is because their information is not yet in the Library's database.

If your id is not in the Library's database then come to the Library Circulation Desk and register (library hours). You will need a photo ID and something to show you are a current student, faculty or staff (registration, campus ID etc.).

Remember to test your access before you leave the Library by logging in to 'My library account' on the library homepage (library.auraria.edu). If your record is displayed you'll be able to access the databases from off campus. If not check back with the Library Circulation Desk.

Q. My record is correct but when I submit my login information from home the page just clears the information I entered and I have to fill it in again.

A. This problem is usually corrected by resetting your browsers' privacy settings to allow pop ups and set cookies.

Q. My record is fine but I am denied access.

A. First determine what Internet Service Provider (ISP) you use to connect to the internet. Then follow the directions for that provider listed below.

• WebTV will not work with the proxy server you need to use a different ISP
• AOL/Compuserve users should first update to the latest AOL version: if it still doesn't work use an Internet Explorer browser instead of the AOL browser to access the databases
• MSN users should use an Internet Explorer browser instead of the MSN browser
• Mac users should see notes for Mac users

If you are still unable to connect consult our Help page OR email or call the Distance Librarian, 303-556-2791.

Q. How do I get an article or book that is not available online?

A. Articles that are not available electronically may be requested through our InterLibrary Loan service (ILL). The article will be found and conveyed to you electronically. If the article is physically available in the Library in paper or microfiche format then students that live in the Denver Metro area must come to the Library and make their own copies of the article. Any faculty member anywhere and students that live outside the Denver Metro area and are taking courses exclusively online may request articles that reside in the Library via ILL and the request will be filled if the request includes the information that you are a distance student.

Books. When you make an ILL or Prospector request for a book, video or cd, the item will be delivered to, and should be returned to, Auraria Library. We do not mail books.

However you have some other options for obtaining the book.

1. If you are located in Colorado look for the book in Prospector, the combined catalog of the major libraries of the Front Range from Pueblo to Laramie. You may login from your local library if they participate and have the book sent there.
2. Look for a library near you that has the book through Google or Yahoo. Search for the book's title in quotes and the word 'worldcat'. Choose a result that has the base url worldcatlibraries.org. Example search: "sun also rises" worldcat. You can go directly to this free database at http://worldcat.org/.
3. Request the book through your local library's ILL service. Interlibrary loan is a common service in all public and academic libraries. Locate the libraries near you using the resources on our "other catalogs" page.
4. Look for an electronic version of the book or if you are a faculty member request that the Library purchase an electronic copy.
5. Faculty researchers should consider asking the publisher for a review copy to study a new book in depth.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Internet Service Provider

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are companies such as CompuServe, US West, and AOL, that provide access to the Internet. CCD Online suggests The List as a good way to locate an ISP. Most ISPs charge a monthly rate; however, there are some free ISPs available. Free.com has a list of free ISPs with reviews and comments. (USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! LONG DISTANCE CHARGES MAY APPLY).

UCD students, faculty and staff using PPP connections (dial up) ITS will NOT need to use this proxy server system. UCD students, faculty and staff can take advantage of an inexpensive internet account filling out a form at the ITS office in Room 1350 at 1380 Lawrence Street (between 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday). Find out more about the dial up accounts at UCD internet connections. Here's a link to the trouble shooting and how to page at ITS.

Some databases are also accessible using telnet.

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Web Browsers

The system will generally work with Netscape and IE versions as old as 3.0; although some databases now require Netscape 6.0 or Internet Explorer 6.0 and work better with newer versions.

Some versions of Netscape (6.0) and Internet Explorer (5.0 or greater) do not accommodate the Library proxy server. If you currently use one of these web browsers, we recommend that you upgrade to newer versions. Click here to download the latest Netscape or Internet Explorer browser.

AOL or CompuServe users first need to upgrade their connection with AOL to the latest version. If there are still problems, often the use of a separate browser (IE or Netscape) will be sufficient to establish a connection. If you need to install an independent Netscape browser you find one at Netscape. The older AOL or CompuServe browsers will NOT support the proxy server.

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Confirm Your Library Patron Status

You must be a current student, faculty or staff to use the Library services from off campus. All other patrons are invited to come to the Auraria Library for access to these materials. Auraria Library Hours & Location

Check whether your library record is current
If you are not a current student, faculty or staff of University of Colorado at Denver Health Science Center, Metropolitan State College at Denver, or the Community College of Denver you will be denied access to these databases when you are off the Auraria Campus.

Name and ID

The proxy server will ask for your name and student ID. If you are asked for id and password, then you have not reached the proxy server. You will need to go to the instructions for other denials.

If you are listed in Auraria Library's database you will be able to use the databases just as you do in the library. To verify you are in our database, check your patron record on Skyline.

If your name and ID number are rejected, you will need to present a picture id and class registration info at the Circulation desk in the Library and you will be added to the database. If you do not live in the Denver Metro area email or leave a message for the Distance Librarian, 303-556-2791.

Once you've logged into the proxy server, use the databases just as you do inside the Auraria Library building or on the Auraria campus.

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Proxy Servers

Why use a proxy server?

Many of the databases (article indexes) provided by Auraria Library are purchased from commercial companies. In our contract with them we agree to limit access to students, faculty and staff of CCD, Metro, UCD and AHEC. If you are not using a computer on Auraria campus or one of the extended campuses like CCD East or Metro North, the database companies do not know that you are affiliated with Auraria Library, so you are denied access. The Auraria Library proxy server tells the database company you are "OK" and are permitted to use their product.

What is a proxy server?

The proxy server is a computer located at Auraria Library that has a database of people who can use the Library and a program to check your identification and interact with other programs like the article databases. A databases will talk to the proxy server and not to you because it knows the proxy server is on Auraria Campus. The proxy server takes information from you, talks to the database, then sends information from the database back to you.

Note: When UCD folks use their UCD connection to access the Internet they are talking through a computer on Auraria Campus ... so the databases will talk to them without the proxy server.

How it works

A lot of things happen very quickly and automatically when you click on an article database.

• Your computer tells the proxy server it wants to use that database
• The proxy server asks you to give your name and student id and you enter this information and push the SUBMIT button
• The proxy server looks you up in the Library's patron database.
• If you are in there, the proxy server sends what you type on to the database and sends you back the responses
• If you are not in there (or you had typos when you entered it), the proxy server says sorry, etc.
• When you leave the database or have let it sit idle for a certain length of time, the proxy server (and the database) stop responding and you will need to login again to start using it again
  

Once you login to the proxy server, you will not see this happening. It will seem like you're talking to the database directly.

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Using UCDHSCDDC as your ISP

PPP dial up allows UCDHSC students, faculty and staff to access the campus network and the Internet from off-campus using a standard dial-up modem.

Note: Some people may not be able to make a good connection to the network from home using their current hardware or software.  Call the Helpdesk at 303.556.6100 about minimum system requirements.

Instructions on establishing a connection to the campus network using PPP dial-up

You must set up your account in person at:
Computing, Information & Network Services
1380 Lawrence Street #1350

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