Scenario 2: Library Type: public libraries
Authentication Options: IP, authentication through your catalog, and/or NebraskAccess password
We believe this scenario will mainly apply to medium and large public libraries.
If you have not already done so, please read NebraskAccess Linking and Authentication.
The new database access pages for high school and elementary/middle school students were designed to improve students’ access to databases that have been customized for their use. The Library Commission implemented this customization on the NebraskAccess website and in the EBSCO account associated with NebraskAccess passwords. As a public library, you may also want to implement these customized options. How this is done will depend on your library’s setup.
Below is a list of common authentication methods we believe libraries in this scenario may use to access databases. Please read the options that apply to your library.
Libraries that use their catalog and/or other secondary products for authentication
Biblionix users: Biblionix users please stay tuned. We are working with Karl Beiser to make adding new content to your Biblionix Electronic Resources section as smooth as possible.
Libraries that have setup database authentication through their catalog or other secondary product may be linking directly to the EBSCO databases. On the
NebraskAccess Linking and Authentication page, we list five new resources that have been added to your library’s EBSCO account. Libraries may need to add additional links to their catalog and/or website in order to provide patrons with access to these resources. In addition, as noted above, libraries may want to customize their EBSCO account to help direct users to the appropriate resources for their needs. Please contact
Allana Novotny if you have questions about how this might work.
IP Authentication
Libraries may provide IP authentication for staff and users who are using NebraskAccess at the library. With the creation of the new database access pages that provide users with customized versions of the databases, we have changed how IP authentication works through the NebraskAccess site and associated links. Libraries now have the option to setup their IP authentication to limit users to the databases available through a specific database access page. For example, an elementary school may choose to setup IP recognition to only allow their students to access the customized versions of the databases available through the Elementary/Middle School Databases
access page. In this situation, staff members will be able to use a NebraskAccess password to override IP authentication in order to access higher-level NebraskAccess databases.
In addition to this type of setup, we have created other options that will allow libraries using IP Authentication and specific NebraskAccess links to help direct users to databases customized to meet their research needs. This customization may also be setup in EBSCO.
As you can imagine, there are a number of variables involved in deciding what option will work best for each library. Over the next few months, Devra
Dragos, Susan Knisely and Allana Novotny will be contacting public libraries that currently use IP recognition to visit about your authentication options. If you do not want to wait for us to contact you,
please send us an email letting us know you are ready to have this conversation. In your message, include your name, the name of the library, and a list of the library’s current IP address(s). This information will help us prepare to talk with you.
To add links on your website to the best NebraskAccess landing site(s) for your users, please see
Linking to NebraskAccess.
NebraskAccess Passwords
If your library hands out the NebraskAccess passwords for remote use, we recommend that you read the information about the three new
NebraskAccess Passwords to learn more about them.
If you have questions, please contact Allana Novotny or Susan Knisely at
NebraskAccess.