Damn you, EZproxy!
January 31st, 2008 • chatter
Like most academic institutions, FAU uses EZproxy to allow remote access to various journals and academic databases. It’s easy to use right? Hell, it has to be, it’s got “Ez” in the name! Well I’ll be damned if I couldn’t get it to work in 4 browsers (well, 3 if you really count flock as Firefox) across 2 computers and neither one got me signed into JSTOR. Which sucks because I really need to access JSTOR for two particular documents for Monday’s Anthropology of Islam class. Their EZproxy page has some nice but ultimately useless directions, no wonder the kids at my old job (which was another University) hate trying to use this junk and opted to come on campus. Looks like I’ll be delaying my Monday paper until Saturday when I can go to campus and print my journal excerpts.
I mean, how difficult is it to actually get EZproxy to work remotely? I like to think I’m fairly computer literate given that I’m a systems administrator and I run various proxies throughout the day but this is the only one in years I’ve never gotten to work. I can set up servers and complex wireless networks but this simply escapes me.
What gives, dammit?
UPDATE: Turns out you have to actually go to the library at FAU first and activate your library card before you can use EZproxy. It’d be nice if they explicitly stated that somewhere. Even the librarian I spoke to tonight stated they “get a lot of calls” from people not able to log on, presumably with the same issue. Also, thanks to Chris Zagar for contacting me for further assistance, what a nice guy!