Finding appropriate journal articles can be a challenge when researching at home. A handful of high quality free databases, usually government subsidized, can be used anywhere, but the majority are licensed and require a computer bearing a Carthage IP (identification) number to access them. Carthage's proxy server solves this problem by first identifying the patron and then forwarding the patron's queries to the vendor for response.

Getting ready:

• You must be a current Carthage student, staff, or faculty member.
• You will need your Carthage Novell username and password.

• When you are connected to the Web on your off-campus computer, choose the library database you wish to search from the list at http://www.carthage.edu/ais/library/newalljournals.htm. Most, but not all, library databases can be searched from off-campus. Carthage's licensed databases will have a special hyperlink for off-campus patrons, e.g., off-campus access; publicly accessible databases like Wisconsin Blue Book will have a single hyperlink for both on-campus and off-campus users.
  
  
• When prompted, enter your Novell username and password. The former is composed of your first initial+last name(+a number, if your name is common), and the latter is originally assigned as your Carthage ID number but can be changed to a password of your choice.
  
  

  
  
  
• The blank form in which you enter your Novell username and password is issued by the Carthage proxy server and must look exactly like the illustration. Other forms, coming from the database companies, mean that you have bypassed the proxy server and can't access the database. Carthage does not use company passwords.
  
  
• That's all there is to it! You should be able to switch databases without being prompted again for your username and password. If you are inactive on your computer for a long period, however, the proxy server may time out and require you to reenter your username and password.

Having problems connecting to databases? See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding off-campus access to databases at http://www.carthage.edu/ais/library/offcampfaq.htm

If you have followed all the above instructions and still have difficulty connecting from off-campus, please call the library Information desk at 262-551-5950 for assistance. Provide as much of the following information as you can:

1. what ISP you are using
2. operating system
3. browser and version number
4. URL with which you experienced the problem.

Maintained by Tina Eger
Updated 15 April 2009