Problems with Opposing Viewpoints

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update you all on some off-campus database access issues. Yesterday, it was brought to my attention that one of our students was having trouble accessing Opposing Viewpoints through GALILEO, from home. He could use the GALILEO password to get in, but was booted out whenever he tried a search, and was then being prompted for a password other than the GALILEO password.

I tried it from home last night and experienced similar results, whether I entered through GALILEO or through the database page on the website. I was booted out after a few clicks and taken to a page with 2 hyper links, one for the library's homepage and one to start a new session. Either link took me to the page prompting me for a mystery password.

Our EZproxy administrator confirmed that it wasn't a problem on our end. I just got off of the phone with Gale tech support and they think that they have corrected the problem, but I'm going to try it from home one more time, just to be sure.

If you hear of anyone experiencing these, or other difficulties with a GPC database, please don't hesitate to let me know and I'll get it fixed as soon as possible. GPC databases are those listed on the following page (except the GALILEO link):

http://www.gpc.edu/library/articles.htm

Anything not on this page is a GALILEO-managed database, and problems with them should be reported directly to GALILEO using the Contact Us form on their website.

Thanks everyone! Please let me know if you have any questions.

EZ Proxy Server down

There is a partial power outage at Clarkston, including C Building where our EZ Proxy Server is located, so we're currently not able to connect to the databases which GPC pays for outside of our GALILEO subscription. These resources include JSTOR, Project Muse, Literature Resource Center and Opposing Viewpoints. A complete list of these databases can be found on the GPC Libraries website, under "Find More Articles".

Tessa has verified that the ez proxy server is currently down, but OIT may be able to have it running later today.

Update from Tessa: Three cheers for OIT!

I just got a phone call from Andrew asking me to test our EZProxy access and it is up and running now. He says that it should be stable from here on out unless the partial power in the C building goes south again. So, if you experience any more connection time outs, it is most likely the fritzy power, which will hopefully be completely cleared up by tomorrow.

Problems with NetLibrary

It has come to my attention that Dunwoody has been having some problems with NetLibrary access. Apparently, NetLibrary will recognize them by IP address on some machines, but not on others. To add to this, whether or not a certain machine recognizes them by IP varies from day to day.

I’ve been in communication with, Katie, our GALILEO rep about this problem and NetLibrary has our correct IP range, so we are all stumped. If anyone else is having problems, can you drop me a line about it? Please give me as much detail as you can, like the inventory number of your PC, time of day, etc. I’ll relate all this to Katie and we’ll see what we can do.

In the meantime, it’s not an ideal solution, but, if you are trying to use NetLibrary and it doesn’t recognize you as being at GPC, move to a different machine and that should work. Sorry about this, everybody.

Internet Explorer 7- Upgrade NOT Recommended

I figure that everyone saw this genmail, but, with all the computers we have in the libraries, it bears repeating.

As of today, Microsoft will be pushing Internet Explorer 7 as a high priority update through Windows Update. If you have a PC that is set to download and install updates automatically, you'll be getting this new IE and it is not receiving rave reports. As I understand it, this new version is causing some problems with Banner and WebCT, and is likely to cause problems with other Web applications. Now, after speaking with our friendly neighborhood OIT guy, Andrew, I have learned that a script was run last night to connect everyone's Windows Update to a central server at OIT. Updates from Microsoft will go through this server before being released to our individual PCs and OIT will not be allowing the IE7 update to go through at this time. If anyone has trouble accessing websites on a library computer, check the version number of IE as your first troubleshooting step. The new one may have slipped through on that machine and you should call OIT and have it removed. I'd keep a close eye on your public computers in particular, if students are using them for WebCT, Banner, and the like.

I would also advise not upgrading your home PCs to this new IE version just yet. However, if it slips through, I understand that it is a little easier to uninstall than previous versions. Best to avoid all that mess and just not install it in the first place though. Or better yet, use Firefox. I've used it at home and in the office for a couple of years and I'm in love. It's the best-est. Erik Larkin of PC World has written a very detailed review of the two browsers, if anyone is interested.