The proxy server makes Steen Library fee-based web services available to students, faculty, and staff who have Internet connectivity through ISP's. On or before the 12th day of class, students have proxy accounts activated automatically. Faculty and staff proxy accounts are available upon request.
If your Internet provider is not SFA, use the proxy instructions so you can use all of the resources over the Internet just as you would in the building.
The preferred method for accesing all Electronic Resources (Databases & Journals) is to log in to mySFA first, and then go to the Library homepage via the myCourses tab. This will allow you access to all Electronic Resources without having to enter any information in the Proxy, since you're already logged in to mySFA.
Department | Location:
Systems | 1st
Floor
Contact:
Kreg Mosier | kmosier@sfasu.edu
| 936.468.2935
EZ Proxy Instructions
You MUST be enrolled for the CURRENT SEMESTER in order to use the proxy-based services. (i.e.; being enrolled for the Fall Semester will not grant you access during Summer 2.)
1. All you need to do is go to an index (e.g.: Expanded Academic) and the box below should appear:
Enter your Campus ID Number in the 'User Name' field, and your PIN# in the 'Password' field, then click 'OK'. You should now be forwarded to the appropriate resource.
You also now have the ability to access any Library Resources using mySFA! Simply log into mySFA, then select the Tab labeled "myCourses"
then select the link on the bottom Left side under SFA Resources labeled "Ralph W. Steen Library":
You will then be directed to the Library web site while still being logged in to mySFA. From there, select any resource from the listed Databases and you will pass through straight to that resource.
Students who have forgotten their PIN should call 936-468-1370.
Faculty&Employees are not
added to the Proxy, and should instead always use mySFA
for Database access.
Access Problems
Steen Library users may encounter difficulty in certain circumstances when trying to access fee-based database services from off-campus. We have received numerous requests for information about this problem and suggestions for overcoming it. The following information is provided with these concerns in mind.
Your Personal Computer and Firewalls
Often times, computers will come pre-installed with Firewalls, and one of the most commonly installed software packages is Norton Internet Security. We have had numerous reports of this program interfering with proxy access to journals and databases. Our current recommendation is to disable or turn off this program for the duration of your research. Once you finish working with our online databases or journals, please re-enable your product. Complete instructions are provided by Symantec here.
How access is provided to off-campus users
Steen Library databases are licensed on the basis of the SFA domain (sfasu.edu). All network connections on the SFA campus have the sfasu domain address, ensuring easy access to these databases from anywhere on campus. Users attempting access from off campus must be identified to the database server as legitimate SFA users having the SFA domain address. For off-campus users gaining access through a dial-up connection to the university's modem bank this identification is automatic. Other off-campus users who access Steen databases through an internet service provider, however, must have the proxy server identify them as legitimate.
The Ralph W. Steen Library proxy server provides the sfasu domain address and acts as an intermediary between user computers and the servers on which the databases reside. Information is passed from the users to the proxy server, and from the proxy server to the database servers and back again. The database servers never actually interact with the users, but with the proxy server representing them. The presence of this intermediary server is a necessary part of providing access under available licensing arrangements, but it can cause problems in specific circumstances. The most common problems are described below.
Accessing from an ISD or Public Library
If you are attempting to access the proxy server from a school or public library network or other institution which acts as its own internet service provider (ISP), ask your institutional technical support staff if a firewall is in place.
A firewall is hardware and/or software which is intended to restrict server access for its network users. Many school districts, public libraries, some businesses, and other organizations have installed firewalls to prevent young people or their workers from accessing pornographic and other undesirable web sites. Unfortunately, these same firewalls that provide protection from unwanted sources may also prevent you from accessing Steen library's proxy server to conduct needed research.
What to do about institutional access problems
If your school or public library does have a firewall in place, ask your institutional technical support staff whether permissions can be altered to permit access to the Steen Library proxy server.
If you are using your ISP's proprietary browser
Some of the most popular dial-up ISP's (for example, AOL) have developed their own proprietary browsers to facilitate using their services. These proprietary browsers often will not support transactions with proxy servers.
Caching problems with ISPs
In order to speed up response times for users, many ISPs cache (store) frequently used web pages on their own servers. The proxy server page on LibWeb, the library's web site, may be a cached page on ISP servers. Consequently, users attempting to access the proxy server through these service providers never get to the proxy server, only the cached pages, and the proxy server consequently cannot act as an intermediary for them with the database servers. As we have been able to identify problem ISPs, we have worked with them to eliminate caching of Library web pages.
What to do about ISP-cached web page problems
If you are experiencing a problem with accessing library databases from off campus, contact Library Systems (936.468.2935) between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday with the name of your ISP. Often, we will be able to tell you whether the proxy server will work with that ISP and, if not, we will attempt to work with the ISP to resolve the problem.
If you have any further problems or difficulty using your Campus ID & PIN combination, feel free to send email to kmoiser@sfasu.edu.
