FAQs on Information resources
Registration
URLs
Username and passwords
IP addresses
Opening files
Past usage
A link to the Access Support Documents to Download page is here.
Registration
I think my institution has registered for this resource but I am not sure. How can I check?
Go to the INASP registration database. Choose to browse by country: select your country; select the resource; select the name of your institution.
You will either see that your institution is already registered and will be shown the contact details of the person who registered - or you will have the opportunity to register. If you are not the librarian, ask your librarian to register for you.
I have registered but have not had a reply from the publisher.
Allow ten working days to get a response from the publisher.
Make sure you check the incoming emails at the address used when registering. To see which address was used, go to the INASP registration database. Choose to browse by country: select your country; select the resource; select the name of your institution.
You will see here the email address to which the access details for the registration will have been sent.
If this address is correct and you are sure there are no messages in the inbox about this registration, you should contact the publisher directly. To find the publisher’s contact address, see the list of publishers working with us. Click the name of the publisher/resource and you will be taken to an information page. on which you will find the publisher's contact details.
I am a librarian, how do I register my institution for access?
Please go to the INASP registration database. You should select to browse by country, select your country, then resource and follow the instructions from there. (You will need to know the IP range of your Institute in order for your users to gain automatically authenticated access and for you to gain usage data specific to your Institute.)
I am a user, how do I gain access?
If you are at an institution please check whether your librarian/IT department has set access for the computer you are using. If you need to contact the librarian, you can find the name of the person who has registered by going to the INASP registration database. Choose to browse by country: select your country; select the resource; select the name of your institution.
You will either see that your institution is already registered and will be shown the contact details of the person who registered. If your institution is not registered, please contact the librarian, who should registrater on behalf of the institution, using the guidance given above.
URLs
What URL should I use to enter the resource?
If your library has not got a direct link to the resource on the library home page, you can find the appropriate ÙRL by going to the list of publishers with whom INASP are working. Click the name of the resource, You will be taken to an information page, Towards the end of the page you will find the URL for the resource web page.
I have typed in a URL which does not work.
Check that it is copied exactly. Where possible use cut-and-paste rather than re-typing. Try deleting the final /
Take the URL back to the first point which logically could conclude a URL e.g. after .org, .com, .uk etc. For example if http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=showHome does not work try http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/
If all else fails search for the publisher using a search engine like Google.
Usernames and passwords
Can I use the resources without a username and password?
It is strongly recommended that you avoid the need for a username and password by registering the institution using a fixed IP address. IP access allows you to see the resources and download articles without entering a user name and password. It is much quicker and more efficient. If you do not have a fixed IP addess, you will need a user name and password. See the section on IP addesses below. Practically, it is much easier to have IP address recognition as it saves needing to record or remember the different user names and passwords for each resource.
Why am I being asked for a username and password?
If your institution does not have a fixed IP address, the publisher will have provided access details (username and password) to get into the resource. Publishers need to know who is using the resource because they are usually only accessed by paid subscribers. The username and password help them to safeguard their resource.
How do I get my username and password?
The librarian in your institution is responsible for distributing the username and password. If you are a librarian, you will have been sent the username and password by the publisher to the email address you supplied when you registered. If you have lost or forgotten this, you will need to contact the publisher. Find the publisher’s email address by going to the list of publishers with whom INASP are working and clicking on the name of the publisher. You will be taken to an information page. If you scroll towards the end of that, you will find a contact for help and support. INASP cannot supply you with usernames and passwords, they are managed by the publishers.
If you are a library user or researcher, please contact your librarian for the username and password for your institution.
The username and password sent by the publisher does not work
Make sure you have the password for the correct resource – usernames and passwords will be different for each resource. Check that you are typing in the password exactly as it is written. Most passwords are case sensitive and will be rejected if there is a capital letter in place of lower case or vice versa. Check that your [CAPS LOCK] is not on.
My colleague in another institution does not need a username and password to get to the same resource. Why not?
Most likely, that institution has registered using an IP address, saving the bother of remembering a number of different usernames and passwords. Ask you librarian whether this is possible in your institution.
IP addresses
Why should I register using an IP address?
Institutions are encouraged to register using IP addresses (ranges) if they are static. This allows for:
- Seamless access (no logon screen)
- Usage statistics for the institution
- Greater security as no misuse of usernames and passwords
- Can allow for access for all computers on campus to resources, releasing library terminals and staff time
- Direct recognition of institutional networks by publishers and vice versa
- Preferred by publishers.
If your institution does not have a fixed IP address, you will still be able to register. Your country coordinator may contact you to request you to complete agreements concerning the security of your usernames and passwords.
The IP address of my institution has changed, how do I notify the publishers?
Go to the INASP registration database. Select "update your institutional details". Change the IP address, check and submit the form online. This will be sent to all publishers with which your institution is registered. They could take up to 10 working days to implement these changes. Please note that this does not apply to Mary Ann Liebert Inc, where you need to go to http://www.liebertonline.com/ and click "Administer IP addresses". Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. will not process IP address changes submitted via PERI or email.
Opening files
I can search and find the documents I need, but when I click on 'Download' nothing happens.
Make sure you have Adobe Acrobat loaded. It can be downloaded from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Check with your IT department that the software on the computer you are using allows you to download. Sometimes this is prevented by anti-virus software.
Past usage
I used to be able to access the resource, why can I no longer do so?
Check that the IP address of your institution has not changed. Contact your librarian or IT department for assistance.
Are you using the same machine as previously? If you have IP access in your institution, you may not be able to access when working from home or in an Internet cafe. This is a security measure for the publisher and is quite valid.
Countries acquire subscriptions annually. Check that the subscription for the resource has been renewed by contacting your country coordinators – details can be found on your country page (follow the navigation in the Country finder on the side of this page). You can see current subscriptions on the INASP registration database - follow the links for either your country or the resouce.
For more information, please contact apowell@inasp.info