Finding and accessing e-resources
Louise Cole
Senior Information Advisor
30/6/09 and 2/7/09

Summary
n Access from the Library catalogue (Prism/OPAC)
n Access from the A-Z e-resources
n Access from the A-Z e-journals
n Off-campus access
n Support issues

Access from the Library Catalogue
n Journals in the A-Z list now also listed in the
catalogue as MARC updates
n New update file loaded each month
n A-Z continues to update after a 24 hour delay
n Records separate from print title
n Judith currently weeding out duplicate entries
and alerting e-subs to any outstanding problems
n See Abacus for an example

Access from the A-Z e-resources

Access from the A-Z e-journals

Off-campus access: where a student might have to
click
n Single sign-on problems at journal and/or article
level; database level sign-on much simpler
n Terminology is not always the same from one
resource to another …
n Nor is the position of the log in button or link …
n Nor is the process once you’ve clicked on the link
n … Even if your starting point is StudentSpace!

Those buttons – some examples

Off-campus access … some solutions
n Screenshot project: step by step instructions in
PowerPoint and later, in Captivate
n Public notes available in E-journals A-Z and in
360 Link
n Put pressure on publishers to standardize
terminology
n Any ideas to simplify process for students
welcome
n + revamp of E-resources FAQs on the way

The interactive bit …
n Three scenarios.
n Work in groups.
n Imagine this is a real enquiry – what would you
do?
n Include any checks you would make and any
issues you can identify.

Scenarios
n 1.A student would like to view full-text of an
article. The journal is listed in the A-Z e-journals
but she can’t access the content.
n 2. A student has followed a link from the A-Z e-
resources into Ingenta. He is being asked for
payment when he tries to access an article of
interest.
n 3. A student has successfully logged into
StudentSpace but can’t get access to a database
from the A-Z e-resources.

Scenario 1
n A student would like to view full-text of an article. The
journal is listed in the A-Z e-journals but she can’t access
the content.
n Check A-Z e-journals. Is the year of the article she is trying to access
included in our coverage?
n Try it yourself. Are you getting a request for payment or an error
message?
n Is the site showing that we subscribe to the content (although this is
not always obvious)?
n Try another article from the same journal – same result?
n Check student’s record as they may be on grace logins which would
block them from any external authentication.

Scenario 2
n A student has followed a link from the A-Z e-resources
into Ingenta. He is being asked for payment when he
tries to access an article of interest.
n Check whether we do subscribe to that journal by searching for it in
the A-Z e-journals. Not everything in Ingenta is available in full-text
to us.
n Look for any hints about accessing the content in A-Z e-journals.
n Check whether the subs icon is visible against the content in Ingenta.
n Try it yourself – do you get the same request for payment?
n Check their user record to see if they are an odd category of user
such as partner college or external – this might block their access.

Scenario 3
n A student has successfully logged into StudentSpace but
can’t get access to a database from the A-Z e-resources.
n Check A-Z e-resources list for any notes relating to access problems.
n Check their user account to see if they are on grace logins. Suggest
they change their password and then try again – note this takes a
while to synchronise before they will be able to access with the new
password.
n Try it yourself. Can you get access to the database? Note any error
messages that you see.

Support issues
n Check whether problem is on-campus
n Check yourself whether you can get into the resource
n Check whether enquirer is trying to access dates we don’t
have (check coverage in A-Z e-journals)
n Check whether any public notes have been followed
n Take note of any error messages
n Check user record to see if any problems, e.g. grace
login
n If still not sure email eresources@kingston.ac.uk or
advise enquirer to do so with full details