Last updated: 6/06/05
Remote Access to Library Online Resources

All of the University Libraries’ databases, e-journals, and other electronic information services may be searched freely by anyone from within the University Library. Most of these online resources may also be searched from any computer on the campus network.

However, remote access (i.e. access from off-campus) to the majority of these resources is restricted due to license agreements with vendors/publishers and the high cost of databases and electronic journals. Before you can access many of these databases, you must first establish your “online identity” as a member of the URI community. Specifically, you must be a current student, staff member, or member of the faculty.

There are two ways of gaining remote access: Option 1 or Option 2. Instructions follow.

Option 1: Simply enter your name and Library barcode for access.

Almost all of the Library’s electronic resources are set up to work with our proxy server. (Technically, this means that we have added a 0- to the beginning of the first part of the URL and .helin.uri.edu to the end, e.g. http://0-web.lexisnexis.com.helin.uri.edu/universe.)

With this setup, you can connect to the Internet using any Internet Service Provider you want—AOL, Cox, AT&T, Verizon, Earthlink, etc. Each time you connect to the Internet and click on a restricted online resource from the University Libraries’ Web site or from within the HELIN library catalog, you will be prompted for your name as it appears on your University ID and your library barcode, also located on your University ID. You will only need to enter this information once per session. Once you have been “authenticated” as a URI borrower, you may begin your search.

Your level of access to the databases when connecting this way is determined by your “patron type” as recorded in the HELIN computer system. Your patron type, for example, might identify you as a URI graduate student or a Providence College undergraduate.

If you feel that you have been denied access to a database in error, please contact Circulation to make sure that

a) you have activated your barcode and therefore have a “patron record” in the HELIN system,

b) your patron record has not expired, and

c) your patron record accurately reflects your current URI status (e.g. URI undergraduate student, URI graduate student, URI graduate student in a course numbered 599 or higher, URI staff member, URI faculty member, etc.)

If you have further questions about accessing Library databases from off-campus, contact the Reference Desk for assistance.

Option 2: Connect to the Internet using a URI Dialup Number and your URI account.

If you connect to the Internet using a URI Dialup Number and your URI network ID and password, you will be able to access restricted online resources without having to enter any additional information. (This is because the online information service thinks that you are on the campus network, which, in fact, you are). Instructions for connecting through URI are available at  http://www.uri.edu/ois/gen/internet/dialup.html. If you have any trouble accessing the instructions online, stop by the Help Desk on the Lower Level of the Library, call (401) 874-2301, or e-mail helpdesk@uri.edu.

Configure your computer to connect to the Internet using the URI Dialup number listed at http://www.uri.edu/ois/iits/iits.dial-up.numbers.html.

Keep in mind that setting up your computer to connect to the Internet through URI does not mean that you must always connect in this way. For example, you could use your AOL connection most of the time and only use the URI connection when you want to search a database or access full-text articles.

If the URI number is not a local call for you or if you would simply prefer to connect to the Internet through an Internet service provider other than URI, you will want to use Option 1, described above.