National Library of Australia

Technical FAQs

See also: Answers to FAQs

Some answers to frequently asked technical questions.


QUESTION: What do I need to ask my IT Department?

ANSWER: Establishing access to an electronic resource from your library will inevitable require intervention from IT support staff: for the provider to set up access for your library and to resolve the logistics of actually service delivery.

Issues you may consider discussing are:

  • What is our Internet Protocol (IP) address range?
  • What web browsers do we run, within what operating environment?
  • Can we offer remote access, or just access on-site?
  • How will we set up access onsite and how will we authenticate remote users?
  • What is our method of user authentication?
  • If we're to offer username and password, what is our membership number pattern?
  • Do we have a firewall protecting our computer network ?
  • If we have a firewall, what configuration do we need to ensure access to these electronic resources?
  • Are we running any filtering software (eg Netnanny) which might interfere with access to these electronic resources?
  • Can we allow local printing - if so, how?
  • Can we allow patrons to email results or download/save to a portable device?
  • Do we have a current version of Adobe Acrobat installed for use by our patrons?
  • Do we have sound cards/speakers/headphones?

Your IT staff may have other questions - for the benefit of other libraries, please let us know if you think we can usefully add to this list.

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QUESTION: What authentication methods are available?

A range of options are offered by the providers of the e-resources offered through Electronic Resources Australia.

  • Internet Protocol (IP) address: the unique Internet address for your computer network.
  • Referring URL:enables access to an e-resource from a secure webpage that you must log in to access.  Once the URL is registered with the provider, the e-resource will recognise users coming from a secure and approved site, and deny access from any other URL.
  • Registered patron ID or barcode.
  • Libproxy.
  • EZproxy.
  • Library managed passwords.
  • Cookies.
  • Shibboleth.
  • Athens.

Check which the participating vendors to see what they suggest and/or prefer for access to their e-resources.

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QUESTION: How does my library make the the subscription resources available?

You'll need to provide a URL link for your users to access the e-resources. The link could be on a simple webpage (public Internet or local Intranet) or offered as a bookmark within a web browser.

Check with the particpating vendors for the actual URLs for each resource offered on the Product List.

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QUESTION: Should we provide a statement about acceptable use?

ANSWER: Under the terms of the vendor licence agreements, each subscribing library must take reasonable precautions to ensure usage of the e-resources is according the agreed terms and conditions. We recommended that libraries present all users with a statement to the effect that the resoure/s are:

  • Protected by copyright;
  • Provided by the library for personal use only; and
  • Offered on the basis that the user agrees to the terms and conditions of usage.

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QUESTION: Who do I contact with a subscription, product support or technical question?

The participating vendors are available to help you with any questions or issues about your subscriptions, the content of their resources or technical aspects of their resources. Contact details for each participating vendor, including online technical support and product-specific resources are available from their individual profiles: EBSCO Publishing, Forward Learning Pty Ltd (World Book), Oxford University Press, ProQuest-CSA and Thomson Gale.

If you find you’re still in trouble, email era@nla.gov.au and we’ll try to set you right.

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