Old Dominion University Libraries - Help - Proxy

The majority of the online resources available through the ODU Library web site are limited to currently registered students, staff, and faculty of Old Dominion University due to licensing restrictions. Please be aware that these resources have usage guidelines and restrictions. It is important that our users understand the limits placed on downloading of online content are not subjective arbitrary decisions on the part of the library but legal limitations placed on us by vendor licensing agreements reflecting current copyright law. Just as copyright prohibits the copying of more than a certain amount of articles from any particular journal or prohibits the copying of more than a certain percentage of any particular book, the same laws apply to downloading of online content. The advantage of online content is that it can be read by multiple users from any location without the need to download the articles.

While we appreciate our patrons' information needs and try to meet those needs to the best of our abilities, it is important for all our patrons to understand the constraints under which we can provide these services. When abuses occur, the vendors shut down access to all their resources and everyone suffers.

In order to authenticate a user's access privileges a proxy server is used. This intermediary system validates who you are by taking your University Identification Number (UIN) and your campus email address (including the @odu.edu) and comparing it with information provided to us by the University.

The proxy server uses what is known as a secure socket layer to assure the information being passed to it is in an encrypted form so it cannot be stolen or hijacked. The buttons on the left provide additional browser specific help including information about security warnings and clearing the browser's cache. If you run into problems you may wish to view this information.