Access to Library Electronic Resources
The University of Oregon Libraries provides access to numerous electronic or digital resources. The Library often must negotiate license agreements with providers of e-resources to acquire or establish the access. License agreements for the e-resources define the user community--who is authorized to use resources. Terms also establish how many users can have access at a given time. These agreements specify whether our user community has remote access to resources or not. They establish the terms of use for the Library's user community--what can a user do with the content. Actual terms and conditions vary from agreement to agreement, but the Library strives to provide the broadest possible access to its user community.
User Community
The Library provides access within the Library's facilities to almost all electronic resources for all users. UO faculty, staff, students, and on campus users of the Library's computer networks and electronic resources usually comprise the Library's user community. There are exceptions. Some e-resource providers only grant use to current UO faculty and UO students. In other cases, the user community encompasses an even narrower group of users (i.e., current Law School faculty, staff and students).
Remote Access
Whenever possible, the Library seeks to provide off campus or remote access to the electronic resources we acquire. Occasionally e-resource providers only permit access within a specific library facility, for example, the Knight Library.
Remote access to the electronic resources is available for use ONLY by UO faculty, students, and staff. Remote access requires users to identify or authenticate themselves, typically using their name and university ID. Sharing this required information (i.e., university ID) with unauthorized users, including proxy card holders, to obtain access to the Library's electronic resources is not allowed.
Proxy card holders are welcome to use most of the library's licensed resources while on campus. Proxy card holders are not eligible for remote access. A person acting as proxy may also not use the faculty's identification numbers to obtain access to the Library's licensed electronic resources.
Proxy program information: https://library.uoregon.edu/borrowing/proxy
Terms of use
Most agreements grant access to e-resources for the educational, research, and personal needs of the Library's user community. Commercial use is generally not allowed under the terms of licensing agreements. Below is a list of typical DOs and DON'Ts when it comes to using electronic resources:
DO
- Use to fulfill educational, research, and personal needs
- Save, download, and/or print portions or single copies
- Share with UO classmates and colleagues (UO authorized users)
- Avoid commercial or for profit use
- Link to specific resources if possible (i.e., course reserves)
- Give proper acknowledgement to your sources
DON'T
- Share material with unauthorized users
- Post material via the Internet or listservs
- Use to support the activities of a business or an organization, both profit and non-profit
- Engage in automatic downloading of large amounts of content
- Use robots, spiders, or similar automated activity to search for or download materials
- Share user IDs and passwords with unauthorized users
- Remove copyright or intellectual property notices
CONSEQUENCES OF UNAUTHORIZED USE
While it may be convenient, advantageous, or desirable, there may be consequences to unauthorized use. These consequences include loss of access for individuals or for the entire campus. See also Acceptable Use of Computing Resources.
Unsure about your user status? Uncertain about whether use is permitted? Unable to get access? Perhaps we can help. For assistance, contact Ray Henry, Director, Applications Development and Integration (541.346.1812, rayh@uoregon.edu).