[WEB4LIB] Remote Access via Referral URL?

[John Greer]

Wes,

We have been using the URL referral method for about a year now 
with a variety of database vendors (SilverPlatter, Nisc,...) with 
generally very good luck.  We have a secure page that the user has 
to have a password to access and then they are allowed to use the 
databases from there.  The main advantage is that our off-campus 
patrons can get to the resources with only 1 password that is 
specific to them and we do not have to deal with any proxy 
headaches etc.



> My apologies if this question has been covered before--I checked the
> archive and that did not seem to be the case. Like most libraries, we are
> struggling with the issue of providing remote access to our IP-protected,
> licensed databases (ProQuest, Ebsco, etc.)  We have experimented with
> scripted ID's and passwords, and with a proxy server.  Both were
> unsatisfactory to us for various reasons I won't go into now.  To get to
> the point, we are now looking at access by a referral (referring?) URL. We
> have a secure intranet for students, faculty, and staff.  If a database
> knows the user is coming from a particular URL that is secure, they should
> be able to let the user in, right? It would seem that there would be some
> accomodation that the database provider would have to make, but none for
> the library or the user, other than setting up the page on the intranet.
> Is anyone else doing this?  Any pointers? Thanks in advance.
> 
> 
> Wes Edens
> Electronic Resources Librarian
> Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management
> 15249 N 59 Ave Glendale, AZ 85306 edensw at t-bird.edu Voice:  (602) 978-7897
> Facsimile: (602) 978-7762
> 
> 


John Greer
Information Systems Specialist
Mansfield Library
The University of Montana 
(406)243-6063

     Knowledge is the only fountain both of the love and the principles of human liberty. 
          Completion of Bunker Hill Monument, June 17, 1843. P. 93.  -Daniel Webster