Off-Campus Access

Who can access the databases

The Library's databases are available only to currently enrolled Cal State San Marcos students, faculty and staff.

What you need

You'll need a campus username and password. If you don't already have one, please contact the campus IT Help Desk:

Student Technology Help Desk
Kellogg Library 2013
760-750-6505
sth@csusm.edu

Faculty & Staff Help Desk
Craven 2302
760.750.4790
helpdesk@csusm.edu

How to access the databases

Simply go to the research databases as you would on campus. When you click on a link, the proxy server will ask you for your campus username and password. That's it.

FAQ

• My username and password don’t work
• I get "the attempt to load failed " or similar message when using Internet Explorer on the Macintosh.
• I keep getting a “Page cannot be found” or “Page cannot be displayed" error.
• After I log in, I get a security warning indicating that I am about to be redirected to a connection that is not secure. Should I be concerned?

My username and password don’t work.

(1) Make sure you are using your campus username and password -- not your library barcode, social security number, or PIN. This is the same username and password that you use to login at the computer labs or check your campus e-mail account.

(2) Occasionally your password gets out of sync between the various servers. If you change your password, this will often resynchronize things. Wait 15 minutes and try accessing the databases with your new password.

If none of that works, call the campus help desk:

Faculty / Staff:  (760) 750-4790
Students: (760) 750-6505

I get "the attempt to load failed" or similar message when using Internet Explorer on the Macintosh.

Unfortunately, the problem here is with the browser. Internet Explorer on the Mac has numerous bugs, and Microsoft no longer supports or updates it.

If you have Netscape or Safari installed on your system, we recommend using those instead.

 

I keep getting a "Page cannot be found" or "Page cannot be displayed" error.

Are you at home?

Yes:

If you are using NetZero or another high-speed dial-up service, you should turn the acceleration off. If that doesn’t work, call Library Systems at (760)750-4358.

If you are using another provider, this message can mean that your browser security settings are too high or you have a personal firewall blocking access. Call the campus help desk, and they can help you out:

Faculty / Staff:  (760) 750-4790
Students: (760) 750-6505

No:

This usually happens when you are trying to access the research databases from your work or another place where they have a firewall that is blocking access to the proxy server.

You can ask the system administrator at your work to open a hole in their firewall, but let’s face it, you probably shouldn’t be doing your homework at work anyway.

 

After I log in, I get a security warning indicating that I am about to be redirected to a connection that is not secure. Should I be concerned?

No, just click Yes to continue.

The proxy server is set up to use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt your login, protecting it from hackers. Once you successfully log in, the proxy server connects you with the database you selected, which in most cases does not use SSL technology. Your browser then warns you that the site you are being sent to is not using this technology.

Your information is not retransmitted to the next site.