Access to Library Electronic Resources

The University of Oregon Libraries provides access to numerous electronic or digital resources. The Library negotiates license agreements with providers of e-resources to acquire or establish the access, and to govern what users can and cannot do with the content. License agreements for e-resources also define the user community--who is authorized to use resources. They may also establish how many users can have access at a given time and specify whether our user community has remote access to resources or not. Actual terms and conditions can 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, including walk-in community members. 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 currently enrolled 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

Remote access to the electronic resources is available for use ONLY by current UO faculty and staff, and currently enrolled students. 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

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 not allowed under the terms of licensing agreements. Specifically, UO community members who also have commercial employment are not permitted to use our e-resources to benefit that business. 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
  • Use material for any artificial intelligence program not specifically permitted by our licenses
  • Share user IDs and passwords with unauthorized users
  • Remove copyright or intellectual property notices

Consequence of Unauthorized Use

There may be serious consequences to unauthorized use. These consequences include temporary or permanent 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? We can help! For assistance, contact Dave Fowler, Collection Management Librarian, at dcfowler@uoregon.edu).