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LibraryWeb - Frequently Asked Questions

Bullet What is LibraryWeb?
Bullet Why is access to some LibraryWeb resources restricted?
Bullet How can I log into restricted services?
Bullet Why can't I connect to restricted services from off-campus?
Bullet Why can't I connect to restricted services even though I am on campus?
Bullet What should I do if a resource is unavailable?
Bullet Why doesn't my UNI work any more?
Bullet Do I have to log into NetLibrary?
Bullet What about LibraryWeb copyrights, permissions, link requests?

What is LibraryWeb?
  LibraryWeb is a gateway to Columbia University's print and digital library collections, an interface to electronic services offered by the Libraries, and a source of information about the Libraries' services, departments, facilities, and staff. LibraryWeb serves as a virtual representation and extension of the Libraries, as well as an external relations and communications medium.


Why is access to some LibraryWeb resources restricted?
  The licensing arrangements offered by providers of most networked electronic resources (e.g., commercial ejournals, reference databases, networked CD-ROMs, digital images, and electronic texts) restrict access and use solely to current faculty, staff, and students of Columbia University. Copyright and licensing restrictions prevent us from offering these resources to alumni or others not currently enrolled in or employed by the University. The key symbol ( Service restricted to members of the Columbia community ) is often used to flag resources licensed for Columbia use only.

If you have Columbia University Libraries reading privileges but are not currently enrolled in or employed at Columbia University, you cannot access restricted resources from off-campus. You may, however, use them at public workstations in the Libraries for study and research.

How can I log into restricted services?
  First, you need an Academic Information Systems (AcIS) Computer Account.

If you already have an AcIS Computer Account, please follow these instructions to log into restricted services:

- When prompted for User Name, type your University Network ID; do not type @columbia and do not type uppercase letters.

- When prompted for Password, type the password associated with your University Network ID. Do not type uppercase letters, unless you created your password with uppercase letters.

If you are not able to log in and you are currently a Columbia student, faculty or staff member, you need to ask AcIS to update your UNI profile: please contact the Computing Help Desk by calling 212-854-1919 or by sending email to consultant@columbia.edu.


Why can't I connect to restricted services from off-campus?
  If you are not prompted to log in, and you are trying to access our services from a commercial firm, it is possible that your firm has a "firewall" in place. If so, this could be preventing you from gaining access to our proxy server, which would, in turn, allow you to log in to our restricted services. You can investigate this with the technical support staff at your firm.

If you confirm that you are behind a firewall, you need to ask your technical support staff to open ports 2048 to 3500 on the following hosts:

greenleaf.cc.columbia.edu:2048
greenleaf.cc.columbia.edu:2443
redleaf.cc.columbia.edu:2048
redleaf.cc.columbia.edu:2443
mizuna.cc.columbia.edu:2048
mizuna.cc.columbia.edu:2443
sorrel.cc.columbia.edu:2048
sorrel.cc.columbia.edu:2443

Why can't I connect to restricted services even though I am on campus?
  Some LibraryWeb resources are accessible only to those connecting from computers registered within the columbia.edu domain. To see whether you are at such a computer, please go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/help/libraryweb/whereami.html

If your computer is at an unregistered IP address, please register your IP address with Academic Information Systems (AcIS) by following the instructions at http://www.columbia.edu/acis/access/dns/

If you have any questions regarding the registration of your IP address, please send email to AcIS via this email alias: consultant@columbia.edu


What should I do if a resource is unavailable?
  Occasionally, for a variety of reasons, a resource may be temporarily unavailable. For example, the system load may be unusually heavy. If a resource is unavailable, just try again later.

If a resource is consistently unavailable, please report this problem to a reference librarian, or use the  LibraryWeb E-Resource Problem Report Form.

If you are not able to log into the Problem Report Form and you are currently a Columbia student, faculty or staff member, you need to ask AcIS to update your UNI profile: please contact the Computing Help Desk by calling 212-854-1919 or by sending email to consultant@columbia.edu.


Why doesn't my UNI work any more?
  The privileges associated with your University Network ID (UNI) may indicate that you do not hold current status as a Columbia University student, faculty or staff member. Access to the Libraries electronic resources is restricted by license to members of those groups. If you have been denied access for the first time, it is likely that you had been granted extended access during a grace period that has since elapsed.

If you are currently a Columbia student, faculty or staff member, you need to ask AcIS to update your UNI profile: please contact the Computing Help Desk by calling 212-854-1919 or by sending email to consultant@columbia.edu.


Do I have to log into NetLibrary?
  NetLibrary's e-books are stored on a server operated by NetLibrary. After you click on an e-book title link in WebCLIO, you connect to NetLibrary's server.

Browsing from a workstation in the library doesn't require you to log into NetLibrary. If you want to "check out" and read an e-book online for a four-hour period, you first need to set up an account with NetLibrary (it's free).

When you get to the NetLibrary page, you'll see a link called Create an Account on the right side of the page below the login information. Create an account using a name and password you'll remember. We don't recommend using your University Network ID (UNI) and password because the NetLibrary account is stored on their server, not ours.

NetLibrary lets you "browse" or "borrow" books. You can browse a book briefly online without borrowing it. If you borrow it, you have 4 hours to view it online and no one else can see it while you have it "checked out." It's very difficult to print more than a page or two or to download e-books for copyright reasons.



Get help with...
  Reference & Research
  CLIO: Columbia Libraries Online Catalog
  Using LibraryWeb
  Computing in the Libraries

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