Licensing agreements for these databases require that the New York State Library limit access to:
We use a process called "IP authentication" to restrict access to eligible users. This means that users must access these databases either from onsite, using the Library's computers, or remotely, through the Library's proxy server. The proxy server authenticates a user ID and password (in this case, a State Library borrower's number and PIN) and, if the user ID and password provided are valid, connects the borrower to the appropriate database provider(s).
We subscribe to many databases, from a variety of different vendors. We try to keep up with any changes made, but at times you may have trouble accessing some databases.
We list any known problems with specific databases below, followed by some general areas to consider when troubleshooting. If you encounter a problem not described here, please let us know about it by completing our brief online form. Please include any error messages you may have received.
FirstSearch WorldCat Email (OCLC) April 23, 2004: There is currently a problem when trying to email holdings from the FirstSearch WorldCat database. The holdings do not arrive with the email. OCLC staff are working to resolve this problem at this time .
EBSCO Electronic Journals Service (EJS): Remote users of EJS are currently unable to access the full text PDF files. EBSCO is aware of the problem and is working to fix it. (October 2002) If you are asked to submit payment, please contact the library and let us know which journal(s) you were trying to reach. (December 2002)
My EBSCOhost: When you are using features available through My EBSCOhost (such as alerts), you will be asked to login with your "User Name" and "Password." This login page is on the EBSCOhost site. The user name and password were set by you when you set up your "My EBSCOhost" account. (They are not the same as your NYSL borrower's card number and password.) If you cannot remember them, click on the link for "I forgot my user name and password" on the "Sign in to My EBSCOhost" page at EBSCO.
EBSCOhost: Effective January 2005: Minimum browser requirements for EBSCOhost will be Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.0 , and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5. The minimum requirements for Macintosh users will be Safari 1.2x or Netscape 7x or Firefox 1.0.
Users with earlier versions of these browsers can use "EBSCOhost Web Text Only" on the EBSCOhost site. The minimum browser requirements for "EBSCOhost Web Text Only" will not change on January 1, 2005. They will remain as follows:
For more details, please see the vendor site at: EBSCO Support.
HeritageQuest Online: Printing Census Page Images: If you'd like to print a copy of the census image you are viewing online, you can use the standard Print button in your Internet browser. However, you may obtain better results by selecting sections of the image and printing from within Adobe Acrobat Reader (Version 5 or higher). For information on how to do this, including how to print a section of the census image or how to make it larger and more readable on paper, please see these instructions from HeritageQuest Online (in PDF).
Loislaw: The database asks for a username and password, but clears up if you delete the cookies and clear the Temporary Internet files. (November 21, 2007)
To use these databases, you must:
If you meet these criteria, but have been unable to access our remote databases, here are some possible problems:
Typos. You may have mistyped your borrower's card number or PIN. Please try again.
Forgot Your Borrower's card number or your PIN? If you are not sure that you are using the correct borrower's number or PIN, contact the Library, and we will look up your borrower's card number and/or PIN number for you. Please contact the Reference Desk by phone at (518) 474-5355 or use the Borrower's Card Number/PIN Request Online Form.
Want to change your PIN? See instructions.
No longer eligible. If you have a borrower's card, but suspect it may no longer be valid, please call the Circulation Desk at (518) 473-7895 to check on your status.
Cookies. If you currently have the "cookies" option disabled in your browser, you will have to enable it in order to access the subscription databases through our proxy server. Once you have been validated by this system, a cookie is sent to your browser as an ongoing indication of your authorization to access these databases. It will only need to be set once during login. (Although as you access specific databases, they may also use cookies. Your ability to use those databases may depend on whether or not you allow those cookies to be set.)
AOL Users: If you are having trouble logging in to the databases, minimize AOL after making a connection to the Internet and use either Internet Explorer, Netscape, or another browser to log in to the Library's electronic resources.
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