What is a Proxy Server?

University Libraries subscribe to many electronic databases and full-text resources for the use of currently enrolled students, faculty and staff on the Columbia campus. These database providers or vendors currently limit access to some of our electronic databases through a method known as "IP (Internet Protocol) Restriction". This allows us to limit access to only authorized users within our domain, meaning those users who have sc.edu as part of their Internet address. This process also enables us to enforce our license agreements with our resource providers effectively. It will mean that unauthenticated users will be denied access to some resource providers' sites.

The University Library proxy server basically forwards requests for web resources from authorized USers. The proxy server authenticates you with your USC ID number, and then serves as a "proxy" between your machine and the database provider's site. Since the proxy machine is part of our "sc.edu" domain, the requested database vendor provides access and allows the connection.

Remember the key component to the proxy server and access to these resources is that you are a registered USC Columbia student, faculty or staff with a valid USC ID number.

How will this benefit me?

The proxy server will let you access University Library databases transparently from off campus. Once the proper information is put into your computer's browser you will be able to enter and exit our resources without the need to be at a university computer on the university's network.

What if I don't configure my browser to use the proxy server?

If you choose to not configure your browser to use the proxy server, then you will find that you will be denied access to some of our current databases on the web. If you don't configure your browser you will be using your dial-up providers IP address and this will not be in our vendors' list of authorized IP addresses.

Will I still be able to get access to Library resources from on campus?

The way you get to the Library resources on campus will not change. You can still select any database from the Electronic Indexes page (http://www.sc.edu/library/ei.html) and go to that resource. What will change is how you connect if you are off campus, or routinely connect from a remote location that is normally not within the IP Domain of USC.

I use an AOL account. Can I still connect?

If you are using AOL (or most any other internet provider) to connect to USC's Electronic Resources, then you can still get to the library databases using the proxy server. However, you must be certain that your computer has version 4.0 of AOL, and an external web browser (Netscape).

Go back to the instructions for connecting to the proxy server.