ISO Remote Access to Library Research Resources

October 25, 2005 2:34 PM

Many libraries offer access to resources that charge hefty fees (e.g., Nexis, Dialog, Oxford U. Press titles).

However, this is usually limited to terminals inside the library building. Does anyone know of a library or other institution that allows members to log on remotely and run, say, a Nexis search?

posted by KRS to Computers & Internet (13 answers total)

Outside of university networks, Nexis and the rest probably prohibit this, because it would kill off their business.
posted by beagle at 2:36 PM on October 25, 2005

I've seen remote access available at academic libraries. However only members of the institution were allowed access, not the general public.
posted by blue mustard at 2:38 PM on October 25, 2005

Many libraries allow remote access, but it's generally authenticated, i.e. you need library card number or password. I'm fairly certain that Lexis-Nexis's licensing terms prohibit true open access. Some states (North Carolina, for one) have public library consortiums where anyone with a public library card can ask their local library for the password and access a slew of databases (though NC LIVE, the name of this system, does change its passwords monthly). You might also see how difficult it is to get a library card at your local university library, and whether such a card would allow you home access to the databases to which the library subscribes. At the university library at which I once worked, any county resident could get a card for $15.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 2:40 PM on October 25, 2005

I can get on to search these from home through my university library. I need my ID number and PIN, though.
posted by duck at 2:47 PM on October 25, 2005

I remember using LexisNexis from outside the university network while a student at Arizona State. I had a username/password that allowed me to access my IMAP email account and other university services (registrar, etc) - this also gave me access to various library services like LexisNexis and some academic journal databases.

And, much to my surpise, I logged in using my alumnus account (which only serves as a reflector email address, or so I thought) and it's letting me use LexisNexis Academic.
posted by mullacc at 2:50 PM on October 25, 2005

It all depends on the agreement that the university has negotiated. At the univeristy where I am a librarian, almost all of our subscription indexes and databases are available for remote access. That said, the user needs to log in using an active login name and password, whether on campus or off. For my library, the remote service is not extended to alumni, but they can use the material in the library.
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 3:57 PM on October 25, 2005

The Boston Public Library offers remote access for some databases. It looks like one just needs to enter one's library card number.
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 5:06 PM on October 25, 2005

The Cincinnati Public Library also offers similar access to various research databases with one's library card number and PIN.
posted by vkxmai at 5:26 PM on October 25, 2005

All Oxford University Press offerings support remote library card authentication. Of course, the library itself must be a subscriber.
posted by nev at 5:27 PM on October 25, 2005

this is usually limited to terminals inside the library building.

In addition to what people above said (logging in to a proxy server from home), in my experience it is not just the library building. For instance, I can use the OED and all the journal collections (these are the two things I ever do) from anywhere on my campus.
posted by advil at 7:27 PM on October 25, 2005

A shit-ton of public libraries offer this sort of service. Jessamyn blogged about this service citing this article.

One of public libraries' great failures of late is not publicizing these services.
posted by stet at 7:34 PM on October 25, 2005

I'll second what everyone above said about most academic and public libraries allowing you to log in remotely with your userid/pin/etc., as long as you're a valid user of that library.

If your affiliated library is a corporate library, then logging into your work VPN will often properly authenticate you.
posted by Carol O at 7:53 PM on October 25, 2005

I'm taking an Executive MBA in the UK, and they give us access to Athens, whcih is a portal of types.

I don't everything they offer, but I use it for FAME (financial data), LexisNexis, and EBSCOhost (the latter a searchable database of roughly 7,000 academic journals).

Fully available via the internet - in fact I'm in the US on a biz trip and access is no problem at all. You just need a user id/password, but my Uni took care of that.
posted by Mutant at 6:10 AM on October 26, 2005