To ensure continued and improved access to academic and scholarly electronic resources, the University of Kentucky Libraries’ licensed electronic books, journals, and databases will require channeling through the EZproxy server. EZproxy is a service which allows access to restricted electronic information purchased or licensed by the University of Kentucky Libraries for current UK students, staff, and faculty.
Most users of UK Libraries resources should see no difference.
Personal bookmarks, favorites, or shortcuts directly to licensed journals, books, and databases may need to be recreated after this change is implemented. To recreate personal bookmarks, favorites, or shortcuts:
- Start from one of the UK Libraries resources listed: the Libraries web site, InfoKat Discovery, Research Guides, or “View Now @ UK” button
- Find the resource
- Save it to bookmarks, favorites, or shortcuts
Alternately the bookmark could be edited directly by adding the URL prefix as indicated on the EZProxy FAQ.
If our licensing allows a product to be available through the proxy then you may create a link by including the following proxy prefix in the URL: http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=
- Jstor example: http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=http://www.jstor.org/
- DOI example: if the DOI is "10.1126/science.347.6217.11" then the url would be http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.347.6217.11
If an instructor has set up direct access to licensed resources from Canvas or BlackBoard and properly configured links for off-campus access as described on the EZproxy FAQ, there should be no change required. If an instructor has not followed the instructions on the EZproxy FAQ, then the links will need to be altered after this change is implemented.
Why are we making these changes?
Due to heightened activity in spider/robot attempts to use LinkBlue accounts in order to access UK restricted information resources as well as other access concerns, additional security measures have become necessary. Many of UK Libraries’ online resources are contractually restricted to current faculty, emeritus faculty, staff, students, & walk-in users for noncommercial, educational and research use. UK Libraries makes this change to adhere to licensing obligations, avoid disruption of service, and ensure continued access to academic and scholarly electronic information.
For more information about the use of UK electronic resources please view Legal Use of University of Kentucky Libraries' Electronic Resources.