What do I, a patron, have to do?
As a patron, you don’t have to do anything special to make this work. When you click on a properly formed link from our web pages, our web server decides whether you need the proxy server. If you are off campus, you will be prompted for your CSU email username and password. Other email accounts such as Yahoo or Google will not work. Once that’s verified, you’ll get a link to begin using the database through the proxy server. Your connection will stay authorized until either you close your web browser or considerable time has passed.
Off Campus Information
Chicago State University purchases database access for those who have an association with CSU. To verify association with CSU, the library asks for your CSU email account user name and password.
When attempting to access databases from off campus, you will be asked to provide your CSU email user name and password.
To access databases from off campus, from the alphabetical list of databases, simply click on any database. Two small boxes will appear in the upper left portion of your screen.
Please enter your username:
Please enter your password:
Your user name is your CSU email account user name. Your user name is the first half or first part of your e-mail account—everything up to the @ symbol. Do not include the @csu.edu. For example, if your email account is sjones@csu.edu, your user name is sjones.
The password required is the password associated with your CSU e-mail account. You should have received a letter in the mail with your CSU email user name and password. It is totally different than the Blackboard password (the last four of your social security number). Your Blackboard account information will NOT work in trying to access library resources.
If you have questions about your CSU e-mail account or do not have a CSU e-mail account, please visit the Library Help Center located in LIB 147. The Help Desk can be reached by phone at 773-995-2211 or 773-995-2537.
Off Campus Authorization
Test your login authority. If you are unable to access email from this link, you must contact the Information Technology Division Help Desk and obtain a working password for your account.
Test your access: https://academic1.csu.edu:8080/
If that test fails, contact ITD as directed here. The library cannot verify or activate email. More details ...
If the test above succeeds, your login, when off-campus, should be automatic from any database link, including the alphabetic list. You do not need to use, but may use, this direct login page.
An abbreviated list of resources is available here: direct login to a list of databases
Using CSU Proxy Server
If you are off campus and are unable to access a database because the vendor prompt stops you, you can try the following. This can happen in several places, including RefWorks®.
Place (copy the following exactly) the following IN FRONT OF the link in your browser location bar:
http://bluestem.csu.edu:2048/login?url=
For example,
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=a9h would become
http://bluestem.csu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,uid&profile=ehost&defaultdb=a9h
